Winter Fires: Safety Precautions to Prevent Fire in Winter

Many firefighters consider winter as one of the worst seasons for incidences of fire. There are many reasons for the heightened outbreaks of fire. Most people are not aware of how high of a risk that the winter season brings to their homes and families.

One reason that there are so many fires that occur is due to the added electricity that you are using. The lights on your Christmas trees and decorations raise the risk. Also, for those people who have fireplaces, adding decorations too close to the heat of the fire adds to the risk.

The best prevention methods are to examine your wires and extension cords thoroughly before you use them. Wires should be whole and completely intact. They should not be frayed or torn, and they should not be spliced together. They should be completely covered on the outside. Also, you should try not to overload your plugs. This can cause a short in the plugs, and emit a spark, which can ultimately lead to a fire.

That brings us to the next cause of higher fire incidences: actual fires themselves. There are people who like to burn fires in their fireplaces will often forget that the chimney needs to be cleaned regularly, and the flue needs to be opened for ventilation. There are also people who rely on their fireplaces or wood stoves for a heat source during the cold winter months. It is vital that you take as many safety precautions as possible when using these high heat sources, including keeping any flammable materials a safe distance away.

Another cause of winter fires is candles. During the holidays, many people light candles. This can be for religious purposes or just because they smell good. It is important that you keep these open flames away from pets and children. You should also not leave them unattended or close to flammable sources.

Finally, we should address kitchen safety. While these prevention methods should be practiced all year long, many people do excessive amounts of cooking during the holidays. It is important to make sure that you turn all pot handles toward the inside of the stove to avoid knocking them and their hot contents all over you. You should also be careful with what you cook in the oven. Grease spatters can cause fires that will get out of hand very quickly. Keep baking soda and a fire extinguisher handy at all times. Sometimes baking soda will work better for a grease fire than a fire extinguisher will.