Fa, La, La, La, La… FIRE!

12/6/2021 (Permalink)

Stay safe as your decorate for the holidays!

The joy of the Christmas Season can quickly diminish into stress and worry with the addition of a structure fire.  Especially while decorating for the holidays, it is important to always consider fire safety first and foremost.  The National Fire Protection Association offers many tips to follow while decorating and celebrating the season, helping to prevent yourself, loved ones, or property from experiencing a holiday fire disaster.

Christmas Trees:

• If decorating with a live tree, be sure to select one that is fresh, with green needles that do not easily fall off when touched.
• Place the Christmas tree at least three feet away from any heat or flame source, such as fireplaces, space heaters, or candles.
• Water your tree daily; the dryer your tree becomes the more likely it is to catch fire.
• Do not use light strands that are broken, frayed, or otherwise damaged. Only use lights that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Always turn off your Christmas tree lights before leaving your home or going to bed.

Outdoor Decorations:

• When hanging lights, be sure to only use strands that are rated for outdoor use. Use clips, not nails, or staples, to hang you lights to so that cords do not get damaged.
• Do not block any emergency exits, doors, or windows with decorations.
• Do not overload power supplies with decorations, and always turn off or unplug decorations when you leave your home.
• Bring outdoor lights inside after the holidays to remove hazards, as well as make your lights last longer.

Holiday Entertaining:

• Test your smoke alarms before hosting a holiday party.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles. Keep lit candles away from draperies, furniture, or other flammable materials.
• While cooking on the stovetop, stay in the kitchen; keep children and pets out of the kitchen while the stovetop is in use.
• Do not leave fireplaces, space heaters, or other heat sources running unattended.

We wish you a happy and fire-safe holiday season!  In the unfortunate event that fire damage does intrude on your Christmas celebration, know that SERVPRO of North Pensacola is Here to Help.  Serving the communities of Ferry Pass, Gonzalez, and surrounding areas, our team is available for property damage emergencies, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  To learn more or request service, give us a call at 850-466-3076.