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How to Prevent the Increasing Likelihood of a Winter Fire | SERVPRO® of Wilson County

12/6/2019 (Permalink)

Shorter days and cooler temperatures are not the only things that winter brings—it also provides an increased likelihood that a fire will occur in the home. Winter is always the peak time for fires in the home, mainly due to increased cooking, heating and decorating that can bring about hazards.

Reasons Behind an Increase in Winter Fires

An Increase in Cooking
Winter is a time for holiday meals, baking and festive dishes, but all of this extra cooking can also make a fire more likely to start. The No. 1 place for a fire to start is in the kitchen, which is true at any time of year, but applies especially during winter weather.

The Risk of Heaters
Unsafe heating practices in the home cause the second-highest amount of winter fires, due to space heaters without safety features and fireplaces or wood stoves without grates. If a heater tips over, a safety shut-off should kick in to prevent it from igniting the floor. For wood-burning apparatuses, a grate will keep sparks from traveling outside of the area and onto something flammable.

Candles and Decorations
Though candles and decorations bring forth good cheer around the holidays, they can also bring an increased chance that a fire will occur. Due to their open flame, candles are always risky—they should always be kept well away from other objects and used under supervision. For electronics, these are generally much safer as long as their wires are not worn or prone to overheating.

How to Prevent the Common Winter Fire

Knowing the commonality and causation behind winter fires is a great start to staying safe. Keeping the areas where individuals can practice extra safety in mind, as well as following the below tips will help you enjoy the season without worry:

  • Check smoke alarms once every 30 days and replace every 10 years.
  • Always monitor open flames.
  • Select space heaters with automatic shut-offs in case they tip over.
  • Utilize a screen every time you use a fireplace.
  • Draft and practice an emergency escape plan with your household.

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