The holiday season is in full swing. With the chaos of parties, house guests, and decorations, it’s easy to let your fire safety slip. From decorating to entertaining and cooking your family’s favorite meal, there’s a lot to keep track of. The key is to create a fire safety routine before you host your next holiday party. That way, avoiding a fire disaster will be second nature while dealing with this busy time of year. ServiceMaster Restoration Services hopes the following tips help you and your family enjoy a festive holiday season. If you happen to experience a fire disaster, let our team of experts restore your peace of mind.
Entertaining
- Keep clear pathways throughout your holiday party. Your guests will be able to move comfortably in your home and have an easy exit route in case a fire disaster occurs.
- Test smoke and CO2 alarms before your guests arrive. Change alarm batteries on a regular basis.
- Lock away lighters and matches in a drawer or cabinet away from children.
- Make sure exits are clear from decorations, presents, or your Christmas tree.
Decorating
- Choose string lights that are approved by an accredited testing lab.
- Before you plug in lights, check them for frayed cords, broken bulbs, or any other damage.
- Avoid connecting too many string lights together. This could overload your outlets.
- Contain decorations to safe areas. Avoid placing them near fireplaces, cooking appliances, and heaters.
- Consider using battery-powered candles instead of open flame candles.
- If you do use open flame candles, only burn them on flat surfaces away from other decorations and children.
Christmas Tree
- Christmas tree fire safety starts before you select one. Pull-on the branches when looking for the perfect tree. If the needles fall off easily, it’s probably dry and won’t last long. Choose a well-hydrated tree.
- Once you have your tree, set it up away from heaters, candles, or fireplaces.
- Water your tree on a regular basis to keep it hydrated. A dry tree is a fire hazard.
- Throw out your tree as soon as it dries out. Make sure you don’t leave it in your garage or propped up against your home.
Cooking
- Clean stuck-on food and grease from your oven before you start cooking. You can do this with a baking soda solution and vinegar.
- Practice cooking your recipes before your party. You might just be able to avoid mistakes that could lead to a fire disaster.
- Stay close to your stovetop while cooking.
- Check on food in the oven regularly.
- Keep children and pets at least three feet away from your cooking appliances.
ServiceMaster Restoration Services is your local fire and water damage restoration expert across the South Atlantic. We hope the tips above help you enjoy a wonderful holiday season. If you do experience fire, water, or mold damage, contact us at 888-569-1560. Our team also offers construction and janitorial services. The quicker you call, the more damage we can prevent.
