As the festive period quickly approaches, many people will be bringing their Christmas decorations down from the attic or out of the garage, ready to ‘deck the halls’. While it’s easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday, spending quality time with those that we love the most and eating as much food as you can stomach, it’s important to remember some key fire safety measures that can keep you, and your family safe this Christmas time.
Can Christmas lights cause a fire?
Christmas lights are a key aspect of festive decor. Whether you keep it subtle with minimal lights adorning your tree, or you completely transform the exterior of your home, the warming glow of string lights has become synonymous with this holiday. However, they present the largest Christmas fire hazard within the home.
The good news is that Christmas lights don’t get hot enough to cause a fire risk, so when used correctly, there’s very little to worry about. Unfortunately, many homeowners are guilty of neglecting key safety rules when decorating with these lights.
Ensuring safety with Christmas lights
Check for faults – When you take your Christmas lights out of storage for the year, inspect them for any broken lights, stray wires, excessive kinking, loose sockets, or frayed cords. If you spot any of these warning signs, replace the set entirely.
Use lights for their intended purpose – Outdoor lights are built to withstand exterior weather conditions, but because of this, they often heat up more than indoor lights, posing a fire risk if brought indoors. Indoor lights aren’t designed for outdoor use, and may get damaged when exposed to moisture or rainy conditions, compromising the safety of the lights.
Take care when fixing lights to surfaces – To avoid damaging the cord, always use clips to secure lights to ceilings or walls, never nails or screws.
Prioritize using proper outlets – It’s always better to plug your lights into a permanent outlet that’s been installed by a professional electrician, but you can use extension cords where necessary, just make sure that they’re relatively new! Avoid overloading the outlet by limiting the number of strands or bulbs attached to a single slot.
Be mindful of cord placement – Never run Christmas lights through a door or window for risk of damaging the cord – plug outdoor lights into outdoor outlets, and indoor lights into indoor outlets to avoid running over a threshold. If plugging lights into an extension cord, never run them under carpets or furniture, too close to heaters, or in high-traffic areas, like hallways or stairs.
And finally, turn off your Christmas lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
Is a Christmas tree a fire hazard?
A staple of Christmas decor for many homes, the tree can become the centerpiece of a room, but its magnificence can quickly turn into an emergency. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that US fire departments respond to an estimated average of 160 home fires per year that begin with the ignition of Christmas trees. With that in mind, it’s important to take proper precautions with your tree this holiday season.
How to prevent Christmas tree fires
Live Christmas trees are the biggest culprit for seasonal tree-borne fires. When opting for a live tree, ensure it’s fresh – the stump should be sticky and the needles should be green and rigid. The biggest fire risk is when the tree begins to dry out, so keep your Christmas tree watered regularly. Despite often being used to prevent fire, common fire retardants can increase moisture loss, so avoid using these on or around your tree.
Keep the Christmas tree away from any major heat sources like fireplaces, candles, or vents, and refrain from keeping the tree any longer than two weeks. As soon as the needles begin falling off, it’s time to dispose of it. Don’t try and burn the tree yourself – many cities and towns offer recycling services including curbside pick-up or drop-off locations for trees to be disposed of correctly.
Artificial trees statistically cause fewer fires than live Christmas trees as they’re most commonly made of non-combustible materials. However, if an artificial tree is pre-lit, you should take extra precautions as the wiring inside the tree can fray and become faulty over time. Never leave a pre-lit Christmas tree on overnight or while you’re out of the house.
Other Christmas fire hazards
String lights and Christmas trees are the main Christmas fire hazards, but here are some other important Christmas fire safety tips:
Candles – Keep lit candles well away from other decorations, and never leave a lit flame unattended. Make sure candles are sat in stable holders and placed in areas where they can’t be knocked down easily, and are out of reach of any children or pets.
Open fires – If you haven’t lit your fire in a long time, have your chimney inspected ahead of time to make sure it isn’t blocked. Similarly to the above point, if you’re enjoying a roaring fire at home, be sure to suitably extinguish it before leaving the house or going to sleep, and put up a fireguard if there are children or pets in the home.
Cooking – ‘Tis the season for cooking up a storm, but in the hustle and bustle of Christmas cooking, don’t get complacent! It may take a long time to cook a turkey to perfection, but don’t use this as an excuse to leave the kitchen while an oven or stove is lit. Be mindful of where you place down flammable items like oven gloves or tea towels.
Tidy away flammables – Unwrapping gifts can quickly lead to a build-up of wrapping paper around the room. Remove excess paper from the area soon after the gift-giving is over to reduce the risk of any accidentally catching alight from a candle or fire.
Keep exits clear – It can be tempting to turn your home into a replica of Santa’s grotto but refrain from placing obstructing decorations in the way of exit routes. In case of emergency, you want quick and simple routes to escape the property.
Check safety equipment – You should regularly check your fire safety equipment throughout the year, but in the lead-up to the festive period, double-check that your smoke detectors are functioning properly, and any home extinguishers are in good working condition.
It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but the celebrations can quickly turn into an emergency if you neglect to consider fire safety. From the Powerhouse team, have a wonderful holiday season! But take note of these Christmas fire safety tips and be sure to implement them in your home.