Fires Happen More in the Winter! Precautions for your Kingston home-

12/10/2019 (Permalink)

There are numerous precautions you can take to avoid winter season fires!

In any given year, winter is the most common time for residential fires. Not all of the common winter fire causes are specific to the season, but they are more common during cold weather and thus increase the chances for a fire to occur in your Ulster County home.

Why the Increase of Winter Fires?

More Cooking-
At any time of year, cooking errors are the No. 1 cause of residential fires in the country, but this increase in the wintertime. With more baking, holiday meals and group cooking and more people near flames, the chances are higher during the winter months, leading to an increased fire rate.

Home Heating- 
Wood stoves, fireplaces and space heaters are all common forms of additional heating during cold weather, and as long as precautions are taken, they are generally safe. However, errors in heating are the second leading cause behind residential fires during the winter months, making safety features, smart thinking and supervision a crucial part of these methods.

Candles and Decorations-
Safety in decorating is not commonly discussed, but candles, holiday trees and wreaths and other decorations are another leading cause of residential wintertime fires. Candles are inherently hazardous due to the open flame—it can spread to surrounding areas quickly. Keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that could burn. For electronics, frayed wires and general overheating can pose a fire risk, so it is important to be cautious with those as well.  A heat source close to a Christmas tree causes 1 out of 4 winter fires.

Prevention Tips for Wintertime Fires:

Understanding the common causes of winter fires is an important step in prevention. By going about these activities with a safety-focused mindset and keeping these tips in mind, you can help prevent any accidental fires from occurring this season:

• Check smoke alarms every 30 days and replace every 10 years. Have at least 1 alarm per floor!
• Always monitor open flames including fireplaces, cooking areas and candles.
• Select space heaters with automatic shut-offs in case they tip over. Do not run  overnight or plug them into an extension cord.
• Utilize a screen every time you use a fireplace. Keep your holiday décor far from any open flame but especially Christmas trees.
• Create and practice an emergency escape plan with your household. Don’t forget about pets during this crucial time as well!

If you've suffered fire and smoke damage, call us right away. Our experienced professionals are here to help 24/7 and are faster to any size disaster. We’re leaders in restoration and can help you recover quickly after a fire occurs.