Why Winter Fires Occur and How to Prevent Them

12/9/2019 (Permalink)

Call South Shasta County SERVPRO at 530-241-2424.

While house fires can occur for a variety of reasons, conditions in the winter make them more likely to occur.

In fact, winter is the time of the year that contains the most house fire occurrences every year. To practice fire safety during the colder months, it is important to note why these fires occur and how to prevent them.

Why Winter House Fires Are More Likely

An Increase in Cooking
Cooking is always the top reason behind house fires throughout the year, but even this figure increases in colder months. Between an increased frequency of cooking and baking as well as seasonal recipes being used, kitchens are a hotbed for fire starters if cooking is not performed safely.

The Risk of Heaters
It is not unwise to use heaters and fireplaces during the winter months, but it is important to be safe when they are utilized. Errors in heating methods cause the second most amount of fires when the weather is colder, so utilizing safety features and making sure fireplaces cannot create traveling sparks is key.

Candles and Decorations
Decoration safety is not a widely regarded caution to take note of, but it is highly important during winter. Many winter holidays are decorated for with candles, but these open flames can cause serious fire hazards if they are left unattended. For electronics such as lights, checking their cords for any fraying or tears is important to prevent a fire from beginning.

<h3you-can-prevent-winter-fires">How You Can Prevent Winter Fires

Taking note of the reasons a fire can occur is important, as is remembering tips for fire safety. Here are some of our favorite winter-weather fire safety tips to always keep in mind when cooking, decorating or doing other winter activities:

• Check smoke alarms once every 30 days and replace every 10 years.
• Always monitor open flames.
• Select space heaters with automatic shut-offs in case they tip over.
• Utilize a screen every time you use a fireplace.
• Draft and practice an emergency escape plan with your household.

If your home has been impacted by a fire,

Call South Shasta SERVPRO Today -

(530) 241-2424