Fire Safety Tips You Need to Know
Winter months come with holidays, memories, as well as seasonal fire hazards. Residential fires become more common during the winter months as people use fireplaces, candles, and kitchen appliances more. Knowing basic winter fire safety is important to keep your Morrisville home and family safe. With these simple tips, you can avoid common causes of fires and enjoy a pleasant winter season.
Winter nights become cozier with a crackling fire. However, you should ensure that flames stay where they should be by using your fireplace carefully and cleaning it often. One of the most important safety tips for using a fireplace is to clean it thoroughly before each use. Debris like ashes and built-up soot can become hazards that cause sparks that could result in burns and property damage. Also, starting with a clean fireplace will ensure that you’ll be safe each time you warm yourself up.
While you are cleaning your fireplace, check that the damper is working properly and is open before lighting your kindling. This will ensure good ventilation that will prevent your home from being filled with smoke. Once the fire is lit, you should not leave it unattended. Children and pets should also be kept at a safe distance. Lastly, take care when removing ashes and unburned wood from fireplaces. Coals hiding under ashes could stay hot for up to three days so it’s best to stir ashes carefully and test for heat before scooping them out. Also, don’t miss your annual chimney sweep to keep creosote deposits from building up.
Similar to fireplaces, candles are also potential sources of residential fires. Although open flames can evoke a comfortable ambiance in your home, they should be used cautiously. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles start an average of 7,610 home structure fires each year. You can keep the risk of fire low if you keep lit candles safely away from flammable items like curtains, houseplants, and home decor. Never leave lit candles unattended and do not move a candle that has melted wax pooling in the center. This way you can keep your candle-lit nights safe.
Winter holidays also mean special treats and meals. However, all that extra cooking can also mean that kitchen fires are more common in winter. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are more than 189,000 cooking fires in the U.S. each year. Many fires are caused by unattended kitchen appliances.
To have a holiday free from kitchen fires, make sure you are in the kitchen whenever you are simmering or baking food. You can also keep a timer to remind you to remove food from the stove or oven once you are done cooking. Most home cooking fires start on the stovetop, so make sure dish towels and other fabrics, as well as other flammable items, are far away from your stove burners. Another safety tip is to clean up spills or overflowing food immediately and to use pots and pans that are in good condition.
If your cooking plans include frying, you should use extra caution around hot oil. Keep a pot lid nearby when boiling water or oil, and do not leave these unattended. Should the oil start to flame up, stop it by covering the pot with the lid? You should also turn off the heat and allow the stove and pot to cool.
These safety tips can easily keep your winter season free from fire hazards. Would you like to learn more safety tips for renters? We can help! Call 919-481-0008 to speak with a professional Morrisville property manager today.
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