According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), more than half of home fire deaths occur in the five-month stretch from November to March, and many of those are caused by holiday decorations such as candles and trees. In fact, fires started by holiday decorations tend to be more dangerous (and deadly) than other types of home fires. Therefore, it’s important to stay alert and safe during this time of year.
Whether you celebrate the holidays with enough lights to rival Las Vegas, or you decorate on a smaller scale with a Christmas tree or Hanukkah menorah, there are always things you can do to make your holiday(s) as safe as possible. Review the most common causes of house fires and how to prevent them from happening to you and your family below.
Christmas Trees
Ah, the allure of that pine-fresh scent straight from the forest…or Christmas tree farm. Unfortunately, real Christmas trees are also one of the leading causes of fires during the holiday season. No need to go the fake tree route—just follow these fire safety tips here starting with your tree selection:
The Christmas Tree Association says fresh trees are less likely to catch fire because they aren’t dried out. Do the pluck check by tugging at a vibrant green needle. If it comes right off, it’s starting to dry out. If it’s doesn’t break off or is tough to pluck, it’s a winner! Just keep your tree watered every day you have it in the house, especially if you are using your home’s heater, which will dry out the pine needles more quickly.
Place your tree away from any open flames (fireplaces, candles, etc.) or drapery.
Finally, turn off your Christmas tree lights whenever you aren’t home or are going to sleep at night. The drier your tree becomes, the risk of a fire in your home increases. Make sure to get your tree out to the curb of your home by tree collection day or dispose of it quickly and responsibly yourself.
Electrical Safety
Holiday decorations usually mean a plethora of cords, wires and plugs. This can quickly lead to overloaded outlets, dangerously hanging wires and other potential hazards such as people tripping and falling.
First off, inspect everything closely—every wire, every plug and every bulb. It may seem like overkill, but even one little nick in wire insulation or one jiggly prong on a plug can cause irreparable damage (and possibly death), so it’s worth taking a little extra time to make sure everything is safe. When in doubt, throw it out.
Next, plan out your wire routes to minimize wire crisscrossing and potential for tripping. Finally, make sure outlets are not overloaded. If you need to have more plugs, use grounded power strips that have a built-in circuit breaker. This will help prevent fires and make sure that any power surges will cut off the power rather than potentially cause safety issues. These precautions will help minimize the burns, sparks and flames potentially associated with electrical decorations.
Indoor/Outdoor Lighting
Some people are known to go a little “extreme” with their holiday décor – especially with outdoor lights! Whether you’re lighting up your indoors or your outdoors, here are a few precautions you might want to take.
First, buy LED lights! They will not be hot enough to burn anyone and are also much less likely to overheat and spark a fire. Make sure you buy the right ones to go outside and inside the home. (Hint: the lights will have an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) tag on them that indicates whether they are safe for indoor or outdoor use. Outdoor tags will be red or silver with red lettering).
Set up a timer system to automatically shut everything off at a designated time. This will also prevent overheating by leaving the lights on too long, and as an additional perk—save you money on your electric bill!
Don’t skimp on safety. Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a loved one are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222. Have a safe and happy holiday season!