Minneapolis Homeowners Need These Fire Safety Tips and Tricks During the Holidays

Today’s holiday season is busy with festivities, good food and memories with friends and family. It’s a time to be joyous and not to worry about fire damage or smoke odors. The reality is, house fires are more common during the holidays. We’re all at ease and overlook common fire hazards around the home. We’ve compiled a few useful tips and tricks to protect your home this holiday season!

Seasonal Fire Safety

Lorraine Carli, vice president of NFPA’s Outreach and Advocacy program , addresses fire safety during the holidays herself. She said, “By knowing where potential fire hazards exist and taking the needed steps to prevent them, people can enjoy the season’s celebrations and traditions while keeping their families, guests, and homes safe.”

If you have any safety concerns or questions this holiday season, you can contact the Minneapolis Fire Department at (612) 673-2890.

We want to add on to this by addressing a few of the most common fire hazards during the holidays:

• Decorations — The American Red Cross considers decorations to be one of the top fire hazards during the holidays. From trees to string lights — check for signs of fraying, damage or wear and tear.
• Fireplaces — If you plan on lighting the fireplace, keep a fire screen in place and only use appropriate fuel.
• Cooking — While cooking a holiday feast, do not leave the stove unattended. Do your best to clean grease and pick up pot holders or paper towels, too.

What Is the Top Holiday Fire Prevention Tip for Your Community?

While we all love the look of holiday lights, do not plug in any more than three strings per extension cord. Doing so may lead to sparking — a severe fire hazard.
The NFPA estimates that two of five holiday fires begin with decorations such as lights.
The Recipe for a Safe Family Holiday — The Do’s and Don’ts for Fire Prevention — our new fire safety guide — is available to download right now!
DOWNLOAD THE HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY TIPS Restoration 1 of Greater Minneapolis is ready for the holidays. We’ll be here in the office, awaiting your call, around the clock. You can reach us at 612-268-1961 !

About The Author

David Tynes is the general manager of Restoration of Greater Minneapolis. David has years of experience in home and commercial restoration, and he is certified as a restoration professional by the IICRC.