Fire Safety Tips You Need to Know
Winter months come with holidays, memories, as well as seasonal fire hazards. Winter is usually synonymous with fireplaces, candles, and kitchen appliances that is why there tend to be more residential fires at this time of the year. Knowing basic winter fire safety is important to keep your Adams Morgan home and family safe. With these simple tips, you can avoid common causes of fires and enjoy a pleasant winter season.
A crackling fire is always lovely on a cozy winter night. But you should be careful when using fireplaces. Make sure these are cleaned often to ensure that the flames don’t stray from where they should be. One of the most important safety tips for using a fireplace is to clean it thoroughly before each use. Keep it free from ashes, built-up soot, and debris which can become hazards that throw sparks and cause burns and property damage. Keeping your fireplace clean will ensure that you are safe whenever you warm yourself by the fire.
While you are cleaning your fireplace, check that the damper is working properly and is open before lighting your kindling. This will ensure proper ventilation that will prevent smoke from filling your home. In addition, you should keep children a good distance away from the fire and make sure no fire is unattended. Finally, be careful when removing ashes and unburned wood from a fireplace. Coals from up to three days ago can stay hot under the ashes, so it is best to stir the ashes carefully and test for heat before you scoop them out. Don’t forget the annual chimney sweep as well. This will help avoid the build-up of creosote deposits.
Candles, like fireplaces, are also a very common cause of residential fires. You should be cautious around open flames. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles start an average of 7,610 home structure fires each year. Always keep candles away from flammables like curtains, houseplants, and home decor items to keep the risk of fire low. Never leave lit candles unattended and do not move a candle that has melted wax pooling in the center. If you do this, your candle-lit evenings will always be safe.
Many of our winter holidays also mean lots of food. But with all that cooking, it also means kitchen fires become much more common in these winter months. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are more than 189,000 cooking fires in the U.S. each year. Many fires are caused by unattended kitchen appliances.
To keep kitchen fires from ruining your holidays, make sure you are in the kitchen at all times when simmering or baking food. It is also important to set a timer so you will remember to remove food from the stove or oven once you are done cooking. A lot of cooking fires happen on stovetops, so make sure you keep flammable objects like dish towels and other fabrics far from your stove before you turn any burners on. Clean up spills or overflowing food immediately and use pots and pans that are in good condition.
If your cooking plans include frying, you should use extra caution around hot oil. Keep a pot lid nearby when boiling water or oil, and do not leave these unattended. If the oil starts to flame up, you can stop it immediately if you cover the pot with the lid, turn off the heat, and allow the stove and pot to cool.
These safety tips can easily keep your winter season free from fire hazards. Would you like to learn more safety tips for renters? We can help! Call 202-269-0303 to speak with a professional Adams Morgan property manager today.
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