The Danger of Fire Damage During the Winter Season

1/29/2019 (Permalink)

More fires occur during the winter months than any other time of the year. During the cold weather season, people tend to find extra ways to keep warm.  Unfortunately, many alternative heating methods can also be fire hazards, especially when caution is not used.  

To prevent fire damage during this cold weather season, here are 4 things to keep in mind:

Fireplaces and Wood Burning Stoves

Here are some precautions you can take to keep your fireplace or wood burning stove safe:

• Shield the fireplace with a grate to prevent flying sparks from igniting in the room.
• Keep any flammable materials at least 4 feet away from the fire place.
• Perform regular maintenance and cleaning on your fireplace and/or wood burning stove.
• Make sure there are no cracks in your chimney and that the top is properly capped to keep out debris throughout the year.

Space Heaters

Here are some general rules to follow for safe space heater use:

• Use only space heaters with a “tip switch,” ones that shut off automatically if tipped over.
• Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
• Keep the space heater at least 3 feet away from anything flammable.
• Make sure there is adequate ventilation and base/floor support in the areas where you will use a space heater.

Electric Blankets

Here’s what you need to know about electric blanket safety:

• Check for charred or frayed cords or any dark spots, these may indicate a potential problem with the electrical element.
• Don’t allow anyone or anything on top of the blanket when it is in use, this could lead to overheating.
• Similarly, don’t fold or tuck in the blanket when it is in use, as this could also lead to overheating.
• An electric blanket should never be left unattended or used while one is sleeping.

Smoke Alarms

It’s generally a good idea to regularly check the alarms each year. It’s also wise to double-check the alarms before you start a fire or use a heating element, just in case.

 Here at SERVPRO of Hackensack/Little Ferry we pride ourselves in being community leaders in both fire prevention and fire damage restoration.  Our company is not only locally owned and operated, we’re also part of a nation-wide network of franchises with specialized Disaster Recovery Teams that handle fire catastrophes. We know how devastating a fire can be – and, unfortunately, the tips for prevention are often not talked about as much as they should be.  We want to help change that.