Wintertime is the most dangerous time of the year for house fires as there are infinitely more fire risks residing in every home. Although the holiday season is over, we know that most homeowners will continue to bask in the holiday spirit and decorations for a little while longer. As long as your Christmas tree is still up and your heating system is still on full blast, we urge you to perform a fire-safety check in your home before you’re left healing from personal injuries and dealing with the aftermath of a house fire.
Holiday Decorations
The leading cause of home fires during the winter season is holiday decorations. How can twinkling lights and decorative wreaths cause a house fire, you may ask? Well, they’re usually either the heat source or the fuel.
Decorative candles that are left unattended are usually the primary source of a house fire. Moreover, the synthetic materials that make up ornaments, garlands, and other decorations add fuel to the fire because they burn extremely easily.
Christmas Trees
Although Christmas tree fires are not as common, they are significantly more dangerous. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one out of 52 Christmas tree fires resulted in at least one death.
Research has shown that most Christmas tree fires are caused by uneven electrical distribution when wrapping Christmas lights around the tree. However, real Christmas trees can also catch on fire when they dry out too much or are placed too close to decorative candles.
Heating Equipment
The second leading cause of house fires is faulty heating equipment. Most homeowners don’t realize that neglecting regular maintenance can cause heaters to gather dust, experience wear and tear, or experience other forms of damage that can lead to a house fire. Furnaces, fireplaces and chimneys, as well as boilers, should always be cleaned and well-maintained, while portable heaters should be kept away from flammable materials.
Kitchen Appliances
Those who can’t handle the heat should get out of the kitchen! Unattended cooking is a leading cause of house fires throughout the year, and the numbers only increase once winter comes around. Never leave the kitchen unattended if something is cooking or baking, as the fire can grow out of control really quickly.
Prevention Tips
We don’t want any of our clients or readers to suffer from a house fire, especially at the start of the new year. As the trusted catastrophic injury lawyers of Philadelphia and surrounding areas, the team at Law Offices of Vincent J. Ciecka, P.C. encourages all homeowners to take extra precautions in preventing a house fire this winter.
