Put a Freeze on Winter Fires

 

NFPA and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) have teamed up to remind you that the winter months are the leading time of year for home fires. To help you stay safe, they are providing a wealth of safety tips and information on cooking, heating, candles and holiday decorating - factors that contribute to the increased risk of home fires in the months ahead.

 

Put a Freeze on Winter Fires campaign. Read the news release here.

  

Decorations

 

Use care when decorating your home this holiday season. Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source, while two out of every five home decoration fires are started by candles.

• On average, one of every 40 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 142 total reported home fires.
• Electrical problems were factors in one-third (32%) of home Christmas tree structure fires.
• The decoration was too close to heat source in nearly half (47%) of the fires.
• Candles started 41% of home decoration structure fires.
• NFPA report: Home Christmas Tree and Holiday Light Fires
• NFPA report: Home Structure Fires That Began with Decorations
• Christmas tree fire safety tips
• Electrical issues

 

Heating

 

December, January and February are the leading months for home heating fires in the U.S.

• Space heaters, whether portable or stationary, accounted for one-third (33%) of home heating fires and four out of five (81%) home heating fire deaths.
• The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (28%) was failure to clean, principally creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
  Source: NFPA's "Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment" report

 

Candles

 

The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year's Day and Christmas Eve.

• NFPA report: Home Candle Fires
• Candle fire safety tips

 

Cooking

 

Did you know that Thanksgiving is the leading day for cooking fires? In fact, there are three times as many fires on Thanksgiving Day as any other typical day of the year.

• NFPA report: Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment
• Cooking fire fact sheet (free tip sheet)
• Thanksgiving fire fact sheet (free tip sheet)
• NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil.
• Free toolkit: resources for a community cooking safety campaign.