5 Great Tips to Avoid House Fires in The Winter

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO if a candle causes severe fire damage.

Did you know that house fires are more common in the winter?

It's that time of year again. The days are shorter, the temperature is colder, and it seems like everyone is talking about house fires. While house fires can happen any time of year, they are more common in the winter.

The U.S. Fire Administration says the winter months see the average number of house fires increase, peaking in January. Therefore, the professionals at SERVPRO of North Fulton have put together the following blog post to describe why house fires increase in the winter with five tips for avoiding house fires in the winter. Follow these following tips, and you can stay safe while keeping your home warm!

Why do more house fires occur in the winter?

House fires increase in the winter because of the increased use of electrical devices, such as space heaters that cause an electrical fire. Common causes for house fires are:

• Unattended candles.
• Overloaded extension cords.
• Shorted-out electrical circuits.
• Malfunctioning furnaces or appliances.
• Cooking accidents.

What are the risks of winter house fires?

The risks of winter house fires are significant. Not only can a fire destroy your home, but it can also cause damages to the houses around you, depending on the intensity of the fire.

Below are five tips to avoid winter house fire damage.

Tip #1: Never leave items cooking unattended

While cooking, keeping a close watch is a primary tip to avoiding a house fire, but it is especially important in the winter. It is easy for a cooking fire to go unnoticed until it spreads quickly throughout the house. A homeowner should ensure that they have a fire extinguisher in their kitchen and know how to use it.

Tip #2: Keep combustible items three feet away from heating devices

Heating devices like space heaters and fireplaces need three feet of open space to keep the house safe to avoid unwanted fire damage. Likewise, a homeowner will never want curtains, blinds, couches, drapes near any heating source because these items are particularly susceptible to catching fire. 

Also, a homeowner should inspect all heating devices before each winter season to ensure they are in good working condition and should never use any heating device with an extension cord. 

Tip #3: Make sure your smoke detectors are working properly and replace the batteries regularly

House fires often become more severe when they go undetected. Therefore, smoke detectors should be in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every house level. Smoke detectors will detect smoke quickly and warn everyone in the household.

Tip #4: Have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional at least once a year

Many people don't realize that their fireplace or wood-burning stove needs regular maintenance. All wood and gas burning devices must be properly cleaned and inspected for any repairs required at least once a year.

Tip #5: Never leave a burning candle unattended

Candles can be beautiful, but they can also cause some severe damage if not used correctly. Always keep candles on stable surfaces where they can't get knocked over. Also, it is good practice to blow out a candle before leaving the room. 

Final thoughts

The professionals at SERVPRO of North Fulton hope you find these house fire prevention tips helpful! Remember, it only takes one small mistake to cause a potentially devastating situation.

If your property does become a victim of winter fire damage, a licensed and IICRC certified fire damage restoration professional from SERVPRO is prepared to respond quickly and help get your life back to normal.

All of our professionals are local and are ready at a moment's notice to help restore your property, so please don't hesitate to contact us. Our fire restoration services are available 24/7, even during after-hours and weekends.