This might be a little shocking to you, but most fires take place in the winter. According to the US Fire Administration, approximately 900 people die in winter home fires, and there’s a $2 billion property loss from house fires every year. 

Heating is the second leading cause of home fires, injuries, and deaths usually up from December to February. 2 in 5 fires occur as a result of accidents with space heaters. Common causes include heating equipment, portable generators, fireplaces, wood stoves, candles, outdoor holiday decoration, washers and dryers, and kitchen appliances.

Winter comes with its risks of fires but they can be avoided.

Here are a few tips on best practices this winter:

Best heating practices

•  Make sure your space heater has a tip-over switch, so it automatically shuts-off when it falls over. Do not purchase space heaters that are not UL (Underwriter Laboratories) certified.
• Keep heating equipment away from flammable materials such as furniture, clothing, Christmas trees, etc.
• Be careful not to ignite the creosote in your chimney. Always use a screen, and have your chimney cleaned and inspected regularly. 
• If you own a wood stove, keep flammable items at least three feet away from it.
• Never leave your stove turned on and unattended. Discard cooled ashes in a metal container and store outside.
• Check the walls of your furnace or fireplace, if the walls are hot or discolored, consider installing additional piping installation.

Additional cautionary measures

• Don’t leave burning candles unattended and keep them away from flammable products.
• Don’t leave outside lights running all day. Remember to turn them off when you don’t need them.
• If you still have a real Christmas tree up after January, it’s best to take it out because dried Christmas trees are extremely flammable.
• Replace damaged electrical appliances.
• Test your smoke alarms and ensure batteries are fresh and working properly.
• Have a family emergency plan. Plan and practice a fire escape plan in case of any fire outbursts.

We hope these tips help you during this cold season. However, if you do experience fire damage, do let us know. At AYR Home Services, we restore homes, businesses, and commercial properties to their pre-loss condition with the speed, quality and excellence that our clients not only demand, but have come to expect.