Think of a cozy place. You’ve probably thought of a winter scene. With a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, and a lit fireplace. No televisions or cell phones. The fire in the fireplace has a hypnotic power to distract you and make you think about your own things. However, that cozy scene can turn into hell. In case you didn’t know, the peak season for house fires is, in fact, winter.
Winter: the peak season for house fires
December, January, and February are the months when most people call emergency services because of a fire in their home. This is reflected in data from organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and local fire departments.
According to these experts, winter is the “perfect storm.” During the holiday season, we tend to spend a lot of time at home with our families. As these are usually cold months, we tend to use the heating to the maximum. But the danger doesn’t end there. We also use the kitchen more than usual to prepare Christmas dinners.
Added to all this are fireplaces, which are dangerous regardless of the month of the year. And Christmas decorations, which, when powered by electricity, also add to the risk of fire. Like that time Bart Simpson ruined Christmas for his family by getting up at dawn to open his presents.
How to prevent a fire at home this Christmas
So, what do the experts say? Well, in principle, they believe that most tragedies are entirely preventable. We just need to make a few small changes to our routine.
The main thing to keep an eye on is the heating. Although fireplaces seem dangerous because they use fire, space heaters are the leading cause of fires in American homes. Although these devices are quite efficient and very useful for heating small rooms, many people forget that they need to “breathe.” In other words, they should never be placed close to a bed, chair, or sofa. The appliance must be placed away from curtains, bedding, or any material that could burn. In addition, it is dangerous to go to sleep without setting a timer to automatically turn off the appliance, as well as to leave the house without unplugging the heater.
Now let’s move on to fireplaces. With proper maintenance, a fireplace should not cause you any problems. However, it is common at this time of year to use them for the first time in months. And that lack of maintenance can cause a disaster. Soot and creosote accumulated in fireplaces are highly flammable. Lighting the first fire of the season in a hurry, without a prior professional inspection, is, in the words of firefighters, a risky gamble.
Of course, you also have to pay close attention in the kitchen. Here, experts consider kitchen fires to be purely human in origin. They also point out that the main cause is distraction. At both Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is common to cook for many people, which means we have several burners on at the same time. Along with the oven, the air fryer, the microwave, and the occasional food processor. Leaving the kitchen for a moment to greet guests means leaving many dishes unattended. This creates the conditions for the oil to catch fire.
In these cases, experts remind us that under no circumstances should we ever use water to extinguish a fire caused by oil. Doing so will cause an explosion. The only way to do it correctly is to smother the pan with a lid, removing the oxygen from the fire. Then, turn off the heat and wait for it to cool down before touching anything.
As for decorations, experts recommend not using candles. And when using lights, it is preferable to use battery-powered products rather than those that are plugged into the mains.