by D. Trump

Created on: December 03, 2009

Every Christmas there is at least one news story about a family losing their home, or even worse a loved one, in a residential fire. It is always a horrible tragedy, but unfortunately, it never fails to occur. There are a variety of issues that can cause such an unfortunate event, and yes, there are things that you can do to prevent this from happening to your family. Your best defense is to be informed. This article will give you some of the information that you need to avoid potential fire risks this holiday season.

First and foremost, the issue of the Christmas tree should be addressed. It goes without saying that a fire-resistant artificial tree is the best option. If you feel that you must have a natural tree, make sure that it is healthy and not dying. Keep the tree watered and properly cared for, and make sure that it is not turning brown or getting brittle. A dead tree is a fire hazard, and can ignite and burn much more easily than a live and healthy tree. Check your tree regularly to ensure that it healthy and moist.

The next thing that you should consider when trying to prevent fires, is the electrical component of your holiday decorations. One of the main causes of residential fires is electrical malfunction. This risk is greatly increased during the holiday season due to Christmas lights, plug-in decorations, and space heaters. Be aware that Christmas lights and especially space heaters use significant amounts of electricity. This can put a huge draw on your home electrical system and increase the risk of fire. Make sure that you never overload your electrical system. New LED Christmas lights use a fraction of the electricity of old lights, and do not heat up. Whenever possible, get rid of your old lights and opt for this great alternative. If you must use a space heater to keep warm, be aware that it is not necessarily the heater itself that could ignite, it is also the electrical wiring that it strains when in use. It may be a good alternative to use a lower setting rather than using the highest setting on the heater. If you must use it, make sure that you never leave your space heater unattended.

Another culprit of Christmas fires in the home are candles. For some people, candles are required to create the ambient light and spirit of the Christmas season. If you must use candles, you should always make sure that you do not leave them unattended. Another good practice is to clear things away from the candle to reduce the risk of igniting nearby objects. Luckily, there are new flameless candles on the market that can help create ambient light and reduce the risk of fire. Use this option whenever possible, and you will reduce the risk of fire. Avoid cheap Dollarstore candles as low quality products have a greater risk of being problematic.

In closing, knowledge and care are essential to preventing fires in the holiday season. This article will help you get started, but the rest is up to you. Be careful and make sure that you are always looking out for any fire hazards in your home. We are lucky to live in a time when technology is helping prevent fire risk. Use this to you advantage and don't be afraid to spend a little bit of extra money on some new LED lights or a flameless candle. It could just save your life. Happy holidays!

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