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Mmmmmm, eggnog and sugar cookies! Don\u2019t let treats distract you from putting up decorations. Your giant, inflatable Rudolph will look great next to Darth Vader. The reindeer\u2019s nose matches the Sith lord\u2019s lightsaber, but you can avoid the wrong shade of red with these holiday fire prevention tips.<\/span> \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Start in the Kitchen<\/b><\/p>\n How long should you cook the ham? Does the chocolate pie filling need more sugar?<\/p>\n You could get lost in a maze of recipes. If you have food in the oven, don\u2019t leave your house.<\/p>\n You think about folding laundry in another room, but don\u2019t step out of the kitchen when the stove burners are on.<\/p>\n Keep your stove and oven clean and free of grease build-up, too. You might say, \u201cWell, the oven self-cleaning function doesn\u2019t really work, and it smells terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n We hear that.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to clean your oven with nothing more than:<\/p>\n Visit kitchen for more details on this easy cleaning process.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t use power strips or extension cords for major appliances like your oven. Plug them directly into the wall, and leave small appliances unplugged when not in use.<\/p>\n Accidents happen, even when you pay attention and take the right steps. That\u2019s why you should store a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t keep it in a place near the oven because that\u2019s where most fires start. Think about storing it in an easy-to-access cabinet.<\/p>\n When a fire breaks out, get your fire extinguisher and use the U.S. Fire Administration\u2019s PASS method:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Between 2013 and 2017, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 780 yearly home fires that started with decorations. (Source: NFPA)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let the Living Room Shine in Safety<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Think about all the decorations you could use to deck out your living room:<\/p>\n Don’t let these lovely decorations turn into fire hazards. Keep them at least three feet away from\u00a0 fireplaces and space heaters.<\/p>\n Turn space heaters off when you leave the room.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t run electrical cords underneath rugs, and don\u2019t overload circuits or extension cords, power strips, and outlets.<\/p>\n Between 2013 and 2017, U.S. fire departments responded to a yearly average of 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees. (Source: NFPA)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Your Tree Needs to Drink (Unless It’s Fake)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Think about the main conditions that cause forest fires:<\/p>\n So why would you bring a real tree home, set it in your living room, and let it go dry?<\/p>\n Water your tree! And while you\u2019re at it, keep it at least three feet away from sources of heat.<\/p>\n Always unplug lights before leaving your house or going to sleep, and throw away frayed and pinched wires.<\/p>\n But what about fake trees?<\/p>\n You might want to avoid pre-lit trees because the wiring could go bad and cause a fire.<\/p>\n If you choose a \u201cnormal\u201d fake tree, make sure you buy one that isn’t flammable. The box should have this info.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 22 home candle fires happened every day from 2013 to 2017. (Source: NFPA)<\/p>\n Odds and Ends Around the House<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s some more advice to keep your home safer during the holiday season:<\/p>\n\n
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