According to FEMA, home fires are more prevalent in the winter holiday season than any other time of the year causing $990 million in damage. Increases in cooking, home heating, and holiday decorations all contribute to home fires. Here are some simple preventative measures to make sure you have a safe holiday season:
• Do not leave your stove or oven unattended while cooking as this is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen.
• Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent.
• Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.
• Do not leave candles unattended. In one-fifth (20%) of candle fires, the candles are unattended or abandoned.
