THANKSGIVING SAFETY
The greatest number of home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving and the top causes are:
- Heat source too close to flammable materials – oven mitts, towels, curtains.
- Unattended cooking equipment – remain in the kitchen at all times while cooking.
- Product misuse – such as turkey fryers.
- Remember to have working smoke alarms and keep kids at least 3 feet from the stove.
WINTER FIRE SAFETY
- Half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February.
- Heating equipment is involved in 1 in every 7 home fires and 1 in every 5 home fire deaths.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters.
- Keep portable generators outside, away from windows, and as far away from your home as possible.
- Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
- Plug only 1 heat-producing appliance (like a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.
- Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year.
- Store cooled ashes from your fireplace in a tightly covered metal container, and keep it outside at least 10 feet from your home and any nearby buildings.
HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY
- More than 1/3 of home decoration fires are started by candles. Consider using battery operated candles instead.
- Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are dangerous. On average, 1 of every 52 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in death.
- A heat source too close to the Christmas tree causes 1 in every 4 winter fires.
- Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect.
- Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents. Also, make sure your tree does not block exits.
- Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it is dry.
ELECTRICAL FIRES
- Half of all home electrical fires involve lighting equipment or home electrical wiring.
- Home electrical fire deaths peak between midnight and 8 a.m.
- Peak months for electrical fire deaths are November through March.
- Plug only 1 heat-producing appliance (like a coffee maker, space heater or microwave) directly into a wall outlet at a time.
- Never use an extension cord with a heat-producing appliance.
- Extension cords should only be used temporarily. Have an electrician install additional wall outlets where you need them.
SPACE HEATER SAFETY
- Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory.
- Keep heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn.
- Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.
- Make sure heater auto shuts off if it tips over.
- Never block an exit.
- Plug the heater into the wall outlet. Never an extension cord.
- Turn off and unplug when you leave the room or go to bed.