Enjoy a Safer Holiday with These Safety Tips
It is holiday season and time for house fires. I almost joined that legion of people who burn down their homes, or at least their kitchens, during the holiday season. Businesses, too, often suffer fire damage during the holidays.
My almost-fire started in the kitchen when I decided to put my mother’s old holiday tablecloth on my table. It was cotton with a polyester trim. Unfortunately, when I went to put it on the table I somehow forgot that I had a candle burning on the table. The trim caught fire immediately.
I ran the tablecloth over to the sink and as I put the fire out in the trim where the fire started, the fire began to simply run around the edge of the tablecloth, burning all the trim. I kept moving the cloth in the water to douse the flames, all the while thinking, "Don't panic -- you're a trained professional!"
It took a minute, but I got the fire under control before my cabinets went up in flames. I went to the hardware store and bought a new fire extinguisher that night.
I tell you this slightly embarrassing tale because each year, holiday fires wreak havoc and cause death around the United States, both at home and in businesses.
The National Fire Protection Association presents these grim statistics.
- Each year from 2005 to 2009, U.S. fire departments went to 240 home structure fires started by a Christmas tree. These fires caused $16.7 million in direct property damage annually and many deaths.
- From 2005 to 2009, approximately 12,860 candle-initiated home structure fires were reported to local fire departments. These fires resulted in property losses estimated at $471 million and caused 136 deaths.
- Two out of five reported residential fires start in the kitchen. (Mine did, I know.)
- From 2005 to 2009, half of all home-heating fires occurred in December, January and February of those years.
- Buy one (or several) fire extinguishers and keep them handy. I violated this cardinal rule when I purchased my home. I will never again be without a current fire extinguisher. Be sure to shake the extinguisher every few months and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for replacement. They do not last forever.
- Put new batteries in your smoke alarms on the first day of each year -- more often if necessary.
- We all love lights, but inspect them for damage before lighting them. Then, turn them off when you go to bed or even leave the room for longer than a moment. Never leave them on while you’re away, even if it is just a short trip.
- Candles are very popular, especially around the holidays. Be sure you use high-quality candles manufactured by reputable candle makers. Keep them placed securely and blow them out when leaving the room. The National Fire Protection Association states about ten percent of civilian fire injuries and six percent of annual fire deaths are due to candles.
