Fires are more frequent during the holidays

11/18/2022 (Permalink)

Kitchen fires are the most frightful but common fires that happen.

A cozy holiday season may look a lot like the crackling of logs in a fireplace, a scented candle to fill your home with a comforting aroma, a flicker or glow of Christmas lights in the room, and a tasty meal cooking away in the kitchen but, did you know, all of these things can be a risk for fires? That said, unfortunately, the holiday seasons are usually the highest season for fires, usually caused by decorative faulty wiring (Christmas lights), distracted cooking in the kitchen, and sometimes a fire can be the result of a "not so good" candle placement or a curious family pet.

The top 10 safety tips below may help keep you, your loved ones and home safer this holiday. 

• Install alarms on every level of your home, inside each sleeping area. You can never have enough smoke alarms!
• Plan your escape route. Make sure your family has a plan in place and practices it.
• Keep an eye on smokers and provide a designated area outside with an option to soak cigarette butts in water. 
• Cook carefully. Distracted cooking is the leading cause of fires during the holiday season.
• Ensure all decorative lighting is in good working order and complies with electrical codes.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
• Give space heaters space-always ensure the space heater is not located near drapes or anything that could catch fire.
• Use all electricity safely-replace cracked or frayed cords, don't overload extension cords.

We hope no one experiences a fire this holiday season, but if you do, SERVPRO of Mankato/Owatonna is Here to Help. If you do experience a fire that requires a 911 call, it's important to know that your property will also suffer from water damage from firefighting efforts.

Please call us immediately if you experience a fire, small or large; we are always just a call away at 507-200-3700