The holiday season should be a joyous time of the year. Yet every year, U.S fire departments respond to nearly 250 home structure fires that begin with Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Association. These fires cause an average of 13 deaths, 27 injuries, and $16.7 million in direct property damage.
If you want to make the holiday season happy for your Scottsdale insurance agent this (and every) year, follow these safety tips.
Make Sure Your Christmas Tree is Fresh
Since the risk of fire is higher with natural trees than artificial ones, be sure that if you buy a real tree, you check for freshness. Here’s how, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California:
- Pull the needles back from the branches. If they come off easily, the tree is too dry.
- Check the trunk at the cut to make sure it is sticky with fresh tree resin.
- Bounce the tree on the ground and if needles fall of, the tree is too dry.
Once you pick the perfect tree, you’ll need to keep it fresh. Place it in a water-bearing stand and check the water level every day. Additionally, keep it away from heat sources to keep it from drying out faster and from burning.
Check Your Outdoor Lights before Hanging Them
You’ll want to make sure that the lights you hang outside your home are safe. To do this:
- Make sure they are certified for outdoor use.
- Inspect each strand for cracked sockets and frayed wires.
- Throw away damaged sets of lights.
- Plug in the lights using an extension cord designed for outside use.
- Limit your connections to three or less strands.
Don’t forget to turn your exterior lights out when you leave your home or go to sleep. Lights can short out and cause fires.
Carefully Choose the Holiday Decorations You Use
Holiday candles are a favorite in many homes during the holiday season. However, be sure never to leave a candle burning in a room where it is unattended. Additionally, keep them in non-burning holders and out of the reach of children and pets. You may want to consider using battery-operated candles for safety reasons.
A fire in the fireplace is a great way to enjoy the holiday spirit. Make sure before you light a fire, there is no greenery or needles nearby and don’t use wrapping paper to light it. It tends to catch fire rapidly and get big quickly. This could send sparks and embers into the outside air or cause a chimney fire.
To ensure you have a safe and happy holiday season, make sure your Scottsdale home insurance is current. Talk to your insurance agent about your coverage or other steps you can take to keep your home safe (and your insurance agency happy) this holiday season.