Fire Safety Tips You Need to Know
Winter months bring on holidays, memories – and seasonal fire hazards. As it often happens, the increased use of fireplaces, candles, and kitchen appliances during the winter months is why there are an awful lot of residential fires at this time of year. To make your Vernal home and family safe, it’s critical to ascertain the basic principles of excellent winter fire safety. By obeying these few hassle-free pieces of advice, you can get away from most of the prevalent causes of winter fires, and see to it an enchanting winter season is yours to experience enjoyably.
A crackling fire can be definitely what you need for cozy winter nights. Although fireplaces should be used carefully and cleaned always to make sure that the flames stay where they should. Among the most important safety tips for using a fireplace is to clean it completely 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 secures that your fire will warm you safely any given time you light it.
Added to cleaning your fireplace, be sure that the damper is working fine and is open just prior to lighting your kindling. This will safeguard 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. The last point, use protective measures when removing ashes and unburned wood from a fireplace. Coals can hide under ashes and stay hot for a maximum of three days, so stir ashes carefully and test for heat before scooping them out. And make sure to do an annual chimney sweep to keep creosote deposits from ruining the festivities.
Aside from fireplaces, candles are another common source of detrimental residential fires. Open flames can bring on a restful mood in your home, although they should always be used meticulously. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles start an average of 7,610 home structure fires each year. To retain and keep the risk of fire low, you should constantly put a lit candle at a safe 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. Consequently, you can enjoy all of your candle-lit evenings in complete safety.
It’s not accidental that an awful lot of our winter holidays are certainly associated with appetizing treats and special meals. But in fact, all that extra cooking implies that kitchen fires could occur a lot more regularly 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 main source of these fires is food or kitchen appliances left unattended.
To make sure that a kitchen fire doesn’t thwart the enjoyment of your holidays, ensure to stay in the kitchen constantly especially when simmering or baking food. It’s indeed crucial to set a timer to remind yourself to get food from the stove or oven when you’re done cooking. Quite a lot of home cooking fires happen on the stovetop, so be certain to keep flammable objects (including dish towels and other fabrics) well away from your stove in preparation for turning any of the burners on. Wipe spills or overflowing food right away, and use pots and pans that are in good condition.
On a final note, if your holiday cooking plans include frying, use extra care around hot oil. Never leave a pot of boiling water or oil unattended, and keep a pot lid not far away. 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.
By keeping these simple safety tips, you can actually safely avoid the winter season’s most common fire hazards. Would you like to get more safety tips for renters? We can absolutely help! Call 801-889-1517 to speak with a professional Vernal property manager today.
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