Preparedness is the key to dealing with Northern New England winters

Did you know that the holiday season and colder weather combined can lead to more home fires at this time of year? How much do you know about home fires, the main causes of these fires, and what you can do to help you and your loved ones stay safe?

It’s time to cook those holiday feasts and bake those scrumptious goodies but, be careful, the number one cause of U.S. home fires is cooking and cooking fires peak during the holidays, according to the National Fire Protection Association. It’s cold outside and many may be resorting to alternate sources of heat to keep your home warm. Once again, be cautious as heating sources are the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

So, what should you do to help avoid a fire in your home? The American Red Cross offers these steps to help keep you and your loved ones safe: 

HOME HEATING SAFETY

• Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected and cleaned before another winter of use
• If using a space heater, look for a model that shuts off automatically if the heater falls over. Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface in the home.
• Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces
• Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters
•  Cut down on heating costs. Insulate the home by installing storm windows or covering the inside of windows with plastic to keep cold air out
• Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home
• Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs
• Test batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Develop a fire escape plan and practice it with everyone who lives in the home.

 DECORATING SAFETY

• If you must use candles, never leave them unattended, keep them away from anything that could burn and place them out of reach from children and pets.
• Check all holiday light cords to ensure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together — no more than three per extension cord. Turn off all holiday lights when going to bed or leaving the house.
•  Ensure outside decorations are for outdoor use and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid an electrocution or fire hazard.
•  Look for the fire-resistant label when buying an artificial tree. Keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat. Never use electric lights on metallic trees.
•  If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and keep it watered. Bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off.
• Don’t light the fireplace if hanging stockings on the mantel.
• Check the labels of older decorations. Some older tinsel is lead-based. If using angel hair, wear gloves to avoid irritation. Avoid breathing in artificial snow.
• Have good, stable placement when using a ladder and wear shoes that allow for good traction.

Nationally, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year and most of these are home fires. In a typical year, home fires kill more people in the United States than all other natural disasters combined. Over the past year the Red Cross Northern New England Region, encompassing New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, responded to approximately 440 home fire events helping 1,585 individuals and 633 families in need. Thanks to financial support from our local communities, we were able to provide monetary assistance, shelter, and basic necessities for these individuals and families during their greatest time of need. This winter season, we encourage our neighbors to be vigilant in their safety and preparedness measures.

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information and download the free Red Cross Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).