November, December, and January are one of the busiest, and family-oriented months for Americans. During this time, we celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, and New Year’s Eve. With that said, these holidays and their celebratory months come with endless cooking, roaring fireplaces, candles, and decorative lights. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the leading causes of house fires are Cooking, Heating, and Electrical Malfunctions. The U.S. Fire Administration also states that months from November – March are most prone to house fires. Coincidence? or Carelessness?
Though the holiday months are more prone to house fires, this should not deter us from hosting family and friends. Below are some holiday tips to follow to ensure you and your home are safe.
If you have a Christmas tree, always make sure your tree is watered and hydrated. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, when your Christmas tree becomes too dry, you should discard it immediately, and should always use non-flammable decorations. To learn more about Christmas Tree safety, please click here.
Make sure the candles are not too close to the wall. The U.S. Fire Administration states that candles should be kept at least 12 inches away from anything flammable. This could mean a wall, portraits, curtains, lampshades, etc. To learn more about Candle Safety please click here.
Always keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. In 2022, there were 178,600 kitchen fires in the United States, in which insurance companies paid an estimated $522 million dollars in damages. Some tips stated by the USFA include lowering the heat when cooking with oil, keeping a baking sheet near by to cover the pan if it catches on fire, and never leaving your stovetop unattended when cooking. To learn more about Choosing and Using Fire Extinguishers, please click here.
Do not over stuff your outlets or outlet extensions. Some tips and tricks from the USFA include, do not overload your outlets, insert plugs fully into sockets, never force a three-prong cord into a two-slot outlet, and replace wall outlets if plugs do not fit properly. To learn more about Electrical Fire Safety, please click here.
Sort out any frayed light wires. When it comes to Christmas lights, lamp wires, and chargers, it is very important not to try and repair the wires with electrical tape. Though this method may work, for the time being, it’s best to purchase new lights, and appropriately discard the old lights, wires, and charges in question. It is also important to read the light manufacturer’s instructions on how many numbers of light strands you can connect at one time. To learn about Holiday Lights Safety, please click here.
The author, John Caravella Esq., is a construction attorney and formerly practicing project architect at The Law Office of John Caravella, P.C., representing architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and owners in all phases of contract preparation, litigation, and arbitration across New York and Florida. He also serves as an arbitrator to the American Arbitration Association Construction Industry Panel. Mr. Caravella can be reached by email: John@LIConstructionLaw.com or (516) 462-7051.
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