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Your Guide to Decorating Safely | SERVPRO® of Billings
12/19/2022 (Permalink)
Should a fire issue pop-up during this holiday season, SERVPRO of Billings will be on call ready to assist.
A chill in the air, the soft glow of lights, sweet smells of yummy favorites—what a beautiful picture! This time of year in Billings brings concerts, family nights and festivals
The holiday season is certainly a magical one, but it also brings an increased risk of home fires with it.
This season, you can decorate carefully to protect your home and your loved ones. When your home is safe, you can relax and enjoy the magic of the season without the worry of a disaster.
Fire departments respond to an average of 790 fires that start in a structure due to some kind of decorations.
Often to blame are decorations that are placed too close to a heating source like a space heater or fireplace. Candles and Christmas trees, both real and fake, are also common causes of house fires that can leave your home in complete disarray.
If you decorate with a live tree, be sure to water it often and to clean up loose needles. If an artificial tree is your preference, ensure you own or buy one with a fire-resistant tag. Limit the amount of items you are plugging into your outlets, and turn your decorations off at night and when you leave the house.
We all know that line from the holiday classic, “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.” This should be your motto when you decorate: Take care to avoid creating a fire hazard by never placing any decorations near an open flame.
On an average day, candles are responsible for 20 house fires, so enjoy those warm winter scents a reasonable distance away from all other materials. If your home has a fireplace, have it inspected once a year and swept of buildup.
Anything placed outdoors should have the proper rating to handle the weather. Lights outdoors should be hung securely to avoid brush fires using outdoor nails. If your neighborhood has guidelines for outdoor decorations, be sure to keep those in mind while you get festive.
Take the time to check your smoke detectors and ensure there are working ones on each level of your home and near every sleeping space. Practice your fire emergency plan with your family, and add SERVPRO to your phone contact list so you can start restoration right away if your home is damaged during a fire.
Have smoke or fire damage in your house? Contact us today to get cleaned up fast.