Holiday Safety Tips for Our Customers, Families and Friends

12/6/2018 (Permalink)

This is a Christmas tree after 3 minutes in a living room

The Holidays are almost here, and in the last five years almost two hundred families per year had their holidays ruined by fires that started on a Christmas tree resulting  in over $12 million dollars in property damage because they were not prepared.

Here are some actions to take to insure your family’s Holiday safety:

• Electric lighting is involved in 43% of home Christmas tree fires including old frayed wiring, loose connections, overloaded outlets, especially with power strips, or a candle too close to the tree.

• Two of every five Christmas tree fires started in the living room, family room, or den.

• Keep the tree watered because a dried out tree will burn with a flashover occurring in less than one minute.

• More than half of decoration fires were started by candles, especially in the kitchen where more decoration fires start than in the living room, family room, or den.

• Inspect your strings of lights before hanging them for frayed cords or loose connections. When buying new light strings, extension cords, electrical decorations, or out-door spot lights make sure the certification marks are from an accredited certification organization like Underwriters Lab (UL) or CSA International certification in Canada.

• Outdoors lights must have their connections off the ground and especially away from metal gutters. It’s best to use plastic clips or insulated tape to keep the lights in place instead of nails.

• Never string extension cords together. Take the time to buy the correct length so they will not get tangled or stretched to the breaking point.

• If you have a gas fireplace the glass panel in front must be intact. If it is cracked or broken have a qualified technician replace it.

• If you have a wood burning fireplace make sure the screen is complete and not subject to falling over since kids have a way with screens.

If you or someone you know has trouble with Fire or soot Call SERVPRO of Biddeford                -Saco at 207-283-4428.

Thanks to The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Parents.com for all the data.