Good news: the holiday season is right around the corner! No matter which ones you celebrate, everyone deserves to have a holiday that’s bright, joyful, and safe. With these tips, you and your family can have peace of mind so you can focus on the festivities. Here’s what to be aware of during the holidays:
Kitchens
Holidays mean plenty of cooking, which means your oven might see more use than usual. To prevent a fire risk, don’t leave your oven unattended — that advice applies year-round! If you have kids, you should also be sure to keep any sharp knives out of their reach.
And of course, there’s the classic holiday fire safety tip that you’re hopefully already aware of: NEVER try to deep-fry a frozen turkey! The moisture of the ice combining with the hot oil turns the ice into steam rapidly, which can blow oil out of the pot and potentially ignite it if it hits a heat source.
Fireplaces
To ensure that your fireplace is safe for Santa AND your family, there are a few precautions to take. Keep anything flammable at least 3 feet away from the fireplace, and never leave the fire going overnight or when you’re not home. Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a lid.
As an extra measure, make sure you have a fire extinguisher accessible somewhere in your home — this is also helpful to have on hand for much smaller fire sources like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa candles, just in case. Avoid leaving candles burning unattended.
Decorations
Decorations are one of the most festive parts of the holidays, but they should be placed thoughtfully. If you have a Christmas tree, keep it at least 3 feet away from all heat sources, especially open flames like fireplaces. If you’re buying an artificial tree, make sure it’s labeled fire resistant! Also, keep fragile ornaments higher up in trees so kids and pets can’t reach them.
For lights, don’t use indoor lights outdoors — they’re not built to withstand weather like rain or snow, and moisture can cause the lights to short-circuit, which can be a fire risk. For lights meant to be outdoors, always use a GFCI outlet (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter).
Happy Holidays from us at New Home Inspectors, and enjoy celebrating safely!
