The Increase Of and How To Prevent Winter Fires in Your Kingston Home
12/8/2021 (Permalink)
Take precautions now to help prevent winter fires in your Ulster County home. While winter brings about the holidays, it also brings colder temperatures and increased snowfall, and results in a higher likelihood of residential fires in the Hudson Valley.
In any given year, winter is the most common time for residential fires to begin. While not all the common winter fire causes are specific to the season, they are more common during cooler weather and thus increase the chances for a fire to occur. More festivities involving cooking, the use of candles, holiday décor and trees, utilizing space heaters and fireplaces all add to the increase of chances of a fire occurring.
Behind the Increased Likelihood of Winter Fires:
An Increase in Cooking-
At any time of year, cooking errors are the No. 1 cause of residential fires in the country, but even this statistic is increased in the wintertime. With more baking, holiday meals and group cooking opportunities, the chances for a cooking error tend to become higher during the winter months, leading to an increased fire rate. Never leave cooking food unattended in the kitchen. Keep a fire extinguisher at the ready, and if you’re going to deep fry a turkey, make sure it’s done safely outside and away from any structure (including the deck or garage).
The Risk of Heaters-
Wood stoves, fireplaces and space heaters are all common forms of auxiliary 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 and supervision an essential part of these methods. Space heaters should always be plugged directly into the wall, never on an extension cord, and kept far away from flammable items, bedding and decorations. Fireplaces and chimneys should be cleaned by a professional every year to avoid creosote build up and potential hazards.
Candles and Decorations-
Candles 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 if conditions are right. Don’t keep them near a door or window and never amongst the holiday décor that is usually super flammable. For electronics, frayed wires and general overheating can pose a fire risk, so it is important to be cautious with those as well.
Christmas trees that haven’t been watered or are drying out pose a huge fire risk. Over 150 home fires each year are caused by Christmas trees. Candles and lighting can spark a fire and a dry tree can go up in flames in seconds. Keep your tree watered regularly and away from any heat source.
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 the below tips in mind, individuals can help prevent any accidental fires from occurring this season:
- Keep your Christmas tree well-watered.
- Make sure holiday décor and candles are far from anything flammable.
- Make it a twice-yearly plan to check for frayed wiring and replace immediately if needed.
- Check smoke alarms once every 30 days and replace every 10 years.
- Always monitor open flames.
- Keep turkey fryers and outdoor grills at least 10 feet away from a structure.
- Select space heaters with automatic shutoffs in case they tip over. Never plug a space heater into an extension cord or power strip, only into a wall outlet.
- Utilize a screen every time you use a fireplace.
- Draft and practice an emergency escape plan with your household.
If you’ve suffered a fire at your home or business anywhere in Saugerties, New Paltz, Kingston, Highland, Woodstock or Rosendale, WE ARE HERE TO HELP. SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz is the local leader in property damage restoration and can help you recover quickly after a fire occurs. We’ll help make it "Like it never even happened."