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Overcast The most wonderful time of the year … don’t let a fire ruin it!
A fire can ruin what should be a happy time of celebration during the holidays. As we fill our homes with holiday cheer and decorations, it’s important to use caution in the process, especially with candles, lights and Christmas trees. This limits the risk of dangerous and deadly fires. Last month, we addressed that cooking is the leading cause of fires during the holidays. However, there is also an increase in the number of candle and Christmas tree-related fires as well — and they can be extremely dangerous.
Though candles play an important role in many of our winter holidays, December is the peak time of year for candle fires — 11 percent of home fires originate from candles, compared to 4 percent during the rest of the year. More than half of these candle fires occur when something —notably Christmas trees, drapes or decorations — ignite when they are too close to a candle.
Burn candles in the center of a one-foot “circle of safety,” on a non-combustible saucer or candleholder, away from anything that can burn. Stay in the same room with burning candles; never leave them burning unattended. Be sure to extinguish candles before falling asleep, or going out of the area. Oil-based candles should not be put out with water. Treat them as a grease fire and put a cover or a lid on them. The flame will spread if the oil is displaced by water and may lead to burns or an increased fire. Keep candles out of reach of children and pets, and teach everyone in the family the rules of safe candle use.
Christmas tree fires are infrequent but dangerous
Although Christmas tree fires are not as common as they used to be, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious. On average, one out of every 40 home structure Christmas tree fires results in a death, compared to an average of one death per 142 total home structure fires. These Christmas tree fires are mostly caused by electrical problems or when a heat source is too close to the tree.
When selecting a tree
