Tips on Christmas Fire Safety

by Rosie Esplana

December 9, 2021

This is the time of year to make sure your home is safe from fire. Christmas is a season when business, residential, and educational situations might become a little stressful.

Unfortunately, Christmas brings an increase in the amount of fire hazards in these sites.

Every year, Christmas trees and decorations cause fires that might result in fatalities, and candles have caused over 1,000 fires in a single year. Knowing how to avoid fires during Christmas will assist maintain a seamless operation throughout the whole period, ensuring the safety of all guests, employees, and family members.

With so much to think about this holiday season, and complacency being one of the leading causes of fire, MGS Insurance is providing the gift of Christmas Fire Safety with some useful ideas and advice.

Christmas Trees

Christmas trees are simply trees, no matter how festive they look. There’s a reason you utilize wood as a fuel source for an open fire: it burns extremely well.

If you don’t have a live tree for Christmas, make sure to get a fire-resistant fake tree. It won’t fully prevent a fire, but it will take the flames longer to catch and spread.

If hazards are not avoided and mitigated, a Christmas tree in a room full of furniture has the potential to go up like a tinderbox. Here are some strategies for reducing the risks to your Christmas tree.

Check to see whether it’s still fresh

If you’re going to buy a live tree this year, be sure it’s not one that’s past its prime. Trees that are older are drier and more combustible.

A vivid green color and a distinct scent should give you a good indication. To give it a check, tap it on the ground and make sure that only a few needles drop off.

Keep it watered

When a Christmas tree is naked and stinking of smoke, its fresh pine scent fades, thus it’s critical to make your tree as fire-resistant as possible. Christmas trees can consume up to two pints of water every day and should be kept in a bucket of water at all times.

This bucket should be replenished on a regular basis.

So, how does this improve the fire resistance of your tree? A well-watered tree retains moisture, which slows the spread of disease.

It will still catch fire, but it will do so more slowly, giving you more time to deal with the problem or flee.

Switch it off

We’ll go into the dangers of Christmas lights in a bit more detail later, but it’s vital to know that you should never leave any source of heat unattended. The longer the lights are on, the more time they have to heat up, thus they should be turned off when no one is present.

If you’re the forgetful sort, a Christmas light timer will ensure that your lights are switched off each night. This can also make your utility bill feel less like coal in Christmas stocking and more like a pleasant list.

Christmas ornaments

There are a surprising number of decorations made of flammable materials. Tissue paper, cardboard, card, and wood are just a few of the materials that can be used.

They should never be attached to lights or heaters, and they should be kept away from candles. Make sure that no decorations or greeting cards are placed directly over or around the fireplace, as this might cause a serious fire hazard.

Christmas decorations

During the holiday season, one of the most popular decorations in Christmas lights. Christmas lights are used by both residential and commercial businesses to liven up their spaces, but they also pose a serious fire danger.

It’s worth noting that many of the dangers mentioned below also apply to fairy lights.

Age

Many households and businesses have a box of Christmas decorations stashed away that is brought out every December. There are miles and miles of Christmas lights within this box, tangled beyond comprehension and dating back to a year no one can pinpoint.

Electrically, old and outdated lights can be dangerous and malfunctioning. If they show symptoms of wear or you can’t tell how old they are, it’s definitely time to replace them with new lights that comply with current safety rules.

Condition

The Christmas lights are left on for a long time. Overuse can induce overheating When filaments heat up, glass shatters, and overuse can cause overheating.

This can lead trees to overheat, but the first spark is often caused by a lighting problem.

Before hanging your decorations anywhere, make sure the wiring and condition are in good working order. Electrical shorts and electric shocks caused by damaged cords can result in life-threatening burns. If your lights are broken, toss them out.

With their curious teeth and claws, pets and wild animals can potentially damage Christmas lights (both indoors and outside). Not only may it cause electric shocks to animals, but it can also cause new problems over time if the lights are left on, so make sure to check them periodically.

Locations

Indoor lights are designed to be used just indoors. It’s not difficult, and the instructions are usually pretty obvious on the packing. While outdoor lights can be used indoors, the reverse is not true, as indoor lighting is not built to withstand the elements.

Hanging lights near potential fire dangers such as candles, heaters, and fireplaces is also a bad idea. In addition, bulbs should not be placed near combustible items.

Thoughts

The birth of Jesus Christ is a joyous occasion for everyone. However, everyone celebrating Christmas, whether at home, office, condos, or resorts, should ensure that everything is adequately planned to avoid catastrophes such as fire.

Let us all wish each other a happy and safe Christmas this year.