Holiday Safety Tips for the Home

With the holidays quickly approaching, it is time to get those orange county homes in order before friends and relatives start visiting. Here are some home and fire safety tips to keep you and your family safe this holiday season. 

Outside the home:

Sweep that chimney:  Have your chimney inspected and cleaned out before using it for the first time this holiday season.

Clear those gutters:  Clearing rain gutters of fallen leaves and debris helps prevent electrical fires. Especially if you have decorative lights hung close to them.

Holiday lights: Inspect all your lights before hanging them up. Make sure there are no cuts, fraying or burnt pieces in the string of lights. If you see any damage, do not use them and replace them. Always make sure to properly affixed the lights to your house.

Inside the home:

Ditch dryer lint:  Cleaning out dryer lint after each use is a good way of reducing the risk of fire in your home. By doing so, you get rid of lint build up that could spark a fire.

Smoke detectors: Are your smoke detectors working? Check and test all smoke detectors in the house to make sure they are still working. By testing them now, you’ll save yourself from hearing that annoying beeping sound in the middle of the night when the battery dies!

Check light fixtures:  Inspect all the fixtures in your house for signs of wear or fraying wires which can lead to electrical fires. Call a certified electrician if you see damage near any electrical fixture to get it repaired.

Fire Drill!  If you have children in the house, do a mock fire drill with them. Have a map of possible escape routes from every room of the house and show them how to get to there in case of a fire. It’s best to hold mock fire drills several times a year to help children remember the plan.

Christmas Tree Protection: When having a real tree in the house, make sure to properly feed and water it so it does not dry up before Christmas Day! Trees drink about a quart of water for each diameter, so top off the water everyday. Commercial tree feed can be found at most local hardware stores.

Candles and Fragrant simmers: Use faux candles instead of real ones to lower the risk of a fire. If that is a no-go for traditionalist make sure to extinguish the candles before leaving the house or going to bed. Same goes for fragrant simmers, always turn off the simmer before retiring to bed or leaving the house.

Inside the kitchen:

When cooking, keep these tips in mind to help prevent a fire.

Use a timer:  Always use a timer when cooking so you don’t burn the food which could also cause a fire.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy:  Have a fire extinguisher somewhere in the kitchen that’s easy to grab and use in case of fire. Also, be sure you have the type of extinguisher that can be used on several types of fire.

No loose clothing:  Err on the side of caution and don’t wear loose fitting clothing while cooking as it can easily get to close to a burner and catch fire. This is also a good tip for dish towels, never places them too close to a stove top.

Can this go in the microwave?  It’s best to read the manufactures instructions for the intended use of any cooking product.  If it says “not microwave safe,” then do not place in the microwave and avoid a potential fire.

Handle safety:  Always turn pot and pan handles inward (away from you) to prevent bumping into them and spilling the hot contents on you or others in the kitchen.

Is the stove off?   Turn the stove burners off if you have to leave the kitchen for any reason, no matter the length of time you might be away. It may take longer to cook the food on the stove but safety comes first!

By following these property solutions tips, you can make sure your house and family are safe and protected this holiday season. For more fire prevention tips, check with your local fire department.

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