Halloween is often an anticipated holiday for the fall each year. Spooky celebrations, costumes, trick-or-treating, hayrides, and corn mazes make for only a few of the good times and fun memories. Unfortunately, Halloween has also become a holiday with an increasing number of home fires and fire safety hazards.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Halloween decorations were the number one cause of the start of an average of 790 homes between 2015-2019. An average of 45% of these fires occurred because the decorations were too close to a heat source. Candles started more than one-third of them. These fires resulted in an average of 13 million dollars in direct property damage annually. At such a high cost, you must take the necessary steps to help prevent a fire from igniting in your home this season.
To help you enjoy a safer holiday, follow these important Halloween safety tips from the experts at ServiceMaster Restore.
Halloween Safety: Decorations
Pumpkin Safety. The traditional jack-o-lantern features a smiling or spooky face illuminated from within by a candle. Placing candles inside a cleaned-out pumpkin is a fire hazard. Any lit candle left unattended is a Halloween fire hazard. If they’re inside pumpkins, they can tip over, ignite surrounding materials, and cause a fire. To stay safe, use a battery-operated candle or LED light to illuminate your festive pumpkins.
Candle Safety. Using paper bag luminaries or lining a mantle, porch stairs, or windowsills with lit candles can create an eerie effect for Halloween night. However, this decorating is a fire hazard and poses a risk of injury to you and your guests. To help prevent a fire from decorative candles, replace them with battery-operated, no-flame candles that still provide the same spooky ambiance.
General Decoration Safety. Some decorations inside and outside of your home can be dangerous if left near a heat source. Straw, hay bales, corn stalks, and other dry materials are flammable. To protect your home from a fire, keep these decorations away from any heat source, including fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, candles, and outdoor fire pits.
Halloween Safety: Yard Maintenance
Halloween has the potential to bring plenty of residents through your lawn. To help keep trick-or-treaters and their parents safe, check that your yard is properly maintained and has adequate lighting by completing the following:
- Remove large amounts of debris, including leaves or sticks, to help reduce the risk of trips and falls.
- Check that the exterior lights are working correctly, including any path lights or Halloween decorations.
- Ensure that steps and railing are secure, if necessary.
By following these tips, you can help keep everyone safe. We hope you have a happy and fun Halloween this year!
We know that accidents can still happen no matter how careful and prepared you are. If a fire does occur in your home, call on the experts at ServiceMaster Restore dial 1-800-RESPOND. We’re available 24/7 every year to get your home back to normal after a disaster. We can restore your home quickly with the proper expertise, tools, and innovative equipment. Let ServiceMaster Restore turn your uncertainty into confidence. You can learn more about our residential fire and smoke damage removal services to better prepare for the unexpected.