Ways to Prevent a Fire During the Holiday Season

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

What are 3 Ways to Prevent Fires During the Holidays?

The holidays are a great time of year, but they’re also when home fires are more common. In fact, December is the peak month for house fires caused by holiday decorations, according to the National Fire Protection Association. 

Knowing this, the highly trained Nassau County fire restoration technicians at SERVPRO of East Meadow/Westbury are here to share some helpful tips to prevent a fire in your humble abode:

1. Inspect Your Lights

Before you hang up any holiday lights, check them for damaged or frayed wires, cracked sockets, and loose connections. If any of your lights are broken, throw them away and replace them with new ones. It’s also a good idea to plug outdoor lights and decorations into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet to help prevent fires.

2. Only Use a Fresh Tree

If you’re a fan of having a real tree in your home, make sure it’s fresh before you pick it up from the lot, drive home, and carry it through the front door. For reference, a new tree will have vibrant green needles that don’t fall off when touched (they’ll stay in place). Once you find your “winning” tree, set it in place, and decorate it, it’s vital to keep it watered so it doesn’t dry out and become a fire hazard when you least expect it.

3. Be Careful with Candles

Candles are a common cause of fires during the holidays. If you use candles in your home, be sure to blow them out before you leave the room or go to bed. It’s also a good idea to keep candles away from anything that can catch fire, like curtains, trees, and decorations. If you’re looking for the same ambiance as real candles but want to take a safer approach, consider using battery-operated candles instead to help prevent fires.

Nassau County’s Leading Fire Remediation Experts

When it comes to fire damage, immediate action is vital. Our team of fire repair and restoration experts at SERVPRO of East Meadow/Westbury understands this and will help you get back on your feet in no time. To learn more about our Nassau County fire damage repair and restoration services, contact us at (516) 334-2927.