Winter months create holidays, memories – and seasonal fire hazards. The greater usage of fireplaces, candles, and kitchen appliances during the winter months is why there are excessive residential fires at this time of year. To keep your Cary home and family safe, it’s significant to know full well the basics of correct winter fire safety. By observing some easy tips, you can eliminate the most well-known causes of winter fires, and guarantee an enjoyable and pleasant winter season is yours to relish and enjoy.
A crackling fire can be just what’s needed for cozy winter nights. But really, fireplaces should be used carefully and cleaned regularly to ensure that the flames stay where they should. Classified among the most important safety tips for making use of a fireplace is to clean it attentively before each usage. Ashes, built-up soot, and debris can become hazards, throwing sparks and causing burns and property damage. Starting with a clean fireplace ascertains that your fire will warm you safely every time you light it.
Apart from cleaning your fireplace, be sure that the damper is working correctly and is open prior to lighting your kindling. This will make certain there’s proper ventilation and prevent smoke from filling your home’s interior. Once lit, you should never leave a fire unattended and should keep children and pets at a safe distance. One last note, use preventive measures whenever removing ashes and unburned wood from a fireplace. Coals can hide under ashes and stay hot for up to three days, so stir ashes cautiously and test for heat previous to scooping them out. And keep in mind an annual chimney sweep to keep creosote deposits from ruining the festivities.
Besides fireplaces, candles are another possible source of hazardous residential fires. Open flames can set up a convenient mood in your home, but keep in mind, they should really be used attentively and cautiously. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles start an average of 7,610 home structure fires each year. To continue keeping the risk of fire low, you should consistently put a lit candle at a distance from anything that might be flammable, including curtains, houseplants, and home décor items. Never move a candle that has melted wax pooling in the center, and never leave a lit candle unattended. In this manner, you can enjoy all of your candle-lit evenings securely and safely.
It’s not by chance that so much of our winter holidays are related to tasty treats and exceptional meals. Though all that extra cooking denotes that kitchen fires appear more and more prevalent in the winter months. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are more than 189,000 cooking fires in the U.S. each year. The primary cause of these fires is food or kitchen appliances left unattended.
To know for certain that a kitchen fire doesn’t spoil your holidays, make sure to stay in the kitchen whenever simmering or baking food. It’s moreover essential to set a timer to remind yourself to take food off the stove or out of the oven when you’re done cooking. A lot of home cooking fires happen on the stovetop, so certainly make sure to keep flammable objects (including dish towels and other fabrics) well away from your stove when turning any of the burners on. Wipe off spills or overflowing food swiftly, and use pots and pans that are in good shape.
One final matter, if your holiday cooking plans include frying, use great care around hot oil. Never leave a pot of boiling water or oil unattended, and keep a pot lid near. If the oil starts to flame up, stop it immediately by covering the pot with the lid, turning off the heat, and allowing the stove and pot to cool.
You can definitely avoid the winter season’s most common fire hazards by heeding these simple safety tips. Would you like to know more safety tips for renters? We can certainly help! Call 919-827-1107 to speak with a professional Cary property manager today.
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