It’s easy to slack off on fire safety when you’re stressed about the holidays. But don’t let down your guard: According to the National Fire Protection Association, home fires occur most often during the winter. Before roasting that turkey and decking those halls, follow these tips from the NFPA and the This Old House pros.
Holiday celebrations often involve activities that can increase fire risks, such as cooking large meals, using space heaters, and decorating with lights and candles. By taking a few proactive measures, you can reduce the chances of a holiday housefire.
Essential Fire Safety Checks
Some of the most effective fire prevention tips are the most basic and can be practiced year-round. These include checking smoke detectors and having fire extinguishers readily available.
Test and Update Smoke Detectors
Make sure each detector in your home functions correctly and has fresh batteries. Test every smoke alarm by pressing the test button. If a detector is beeping, address the issue promptly.
Smoke alarm malfunctions are often caused by dust accumulation or nuisance triggers like cooking fumes or bathroom steam. To resolve this, clean the unit by removing the cover and vacuuming it out. Replace the cover and test again. If problems persist, consider relocating the unit away from sources of steam or smoke.
Prepare Fire Extinguishers
Keep fire extinguishers on each floor of your home, near exits, and in easily accessible locations. Familiarize yourself and your family members with their proper use. Choose the right type of extinguisher for different areas of your home, such as a Class K extinguisher for the kitchen. Check your fire extinguishers regularly to ensure they’re not expired and are fully charged.
Pro Tip: When choosing a fire extinguisher, look for a multipurpose A, B, C model rated for all three types of fires. As Captain Hugh Duffy, drill master at the Boston Fire Training Academy, explained to Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, the numerical rating also matters: a unit rated 8-A is two and a half times as effective as one rated 3-A. That higher rating can make a critical difference in those first moments of a fire.
Fire safety experts recommend placing at least one multipurpose fire extinguisher every 40 feet, in living areas, kitchens, and garage workshops—anywhere a small, contained fire may break out. Check the gauge at least monthly: if the pointer shows “empty,” replace the unit immediately. And remember a key principle from fire professionals: never position yourself where the fire is between you and the exit. That’s why extinguishers should always be placed near room exits, not in the back of a room where you could get cornered.
Fireplace and Chimney Maintenance
Before lighting your first fire of the season, sweep and clean your fireplace and chimney. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually by a professional chimney sweep. This helps prevent dangerous buildup of creosote, which can lead to chimney fires.
When using your fireplace, always open the damper before lighting a fire and keep it open until the fire is completely out. Use a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Dispose of ashes in a metal container with a lid, stored at least 10 feet away from your home and any other buildings.
Let Fires Burn Out Naturally: As chimney expert Mark Schaub puts it, “Fireplaces are like children. They need to be watched. Be prepared to stay with the fire until the end.” Never toss water onto a fire to extinguish it—it can damage the firebox. And never vacuum up fresh ashes. “You’d be amazed at how long embers can stay hot in a bed of ash,” Schaub warns. “It could be a couple of days before they cool.”
Pro Tip: Mark Schaub, chimney expert at Chimney Savers in Hillsborough, New Jersey, who has worked on many This Old House television projects, recommends testing for heat saturation by placing your hand right above the mantel: “If it’s too hot to keep your hand there, quit using the fireplace until you have the system” inspected. He also advises against overloading the firebox—burning more than three logs at a time increases heat saturation, which could eventually ignite combustible materials adjacent to the fireplace and chimney, especially in older fireplaces that may lack the air gap between framing and masonry mandated by current codes.
Fire-Free Christmas Tree
Each year, U.S. fire departments respond to more than 200 home fires involving Christmas trees, says the NFPA. The key to avoiding that statistic is to keep your tree from becoming dehydrated. Choose the freshest tree possible, looking for vibrant green needles that don’t fall off easily when touched.
Once you get the tree home, set it up at least 3 feet from any heat source, such as a radiator, space heater, fireplace, or furnace. Cut the bottom inch from your tree’s trunk, fill the stand with water as soon as the tree is upright, and refill it daily. You may be surprised to see just how much water the tree “drinks” every day.
When decorating your tree, use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Never use candles to decorate the tree. Consider using LED lights, which produce less heat and are more energy-efficient. For added security, there are tree ornaments that double as smoke alarms for the cautious.
Preventing Kitchen Fires During the Holidays
The kitchen is the heart of holiday celebrations, but it’s also where many home fires start. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires, with Thanksgiving being the peak day for such incidents.
Never leave the kitchen unattended while cooking, especially when using the stovetop. If you need to leave the kitchen, even temporarily, turn off the stove. Keep your cooking area clear of flammable items such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, and towels.
In case of a small grease fire, slide a lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it’s completely cool. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If you doubt your ability to fight a small fire, get out of the house and call 911 immediately.
Electrical Safety for Holiday Decorations
Holiday lights and decorations can create a festive atmosphere, but they also increase the risk of electrical fires. Overloaded outlets, faulty wiring, and improper use of extension cords can all lead to dangerous situations.
Extension Cords and Power Strips
Do not overload extension cords and power strips. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the maximum wattage for each cord or strip and avoid running extension cords under carpets or across doorways.
Use power strips with built-in circuit breakers for added protection. You may even install an Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) outlet to detect and automatically shut down an arcing circuit.
Never plug a space heater or other high-wattage appliance into an extension cord or power strip. These devices should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
Pro Tip: For outdoor holiday displays, use only exterior-rated extension cords that are 14-gauge or thicker. And never nail or staple lights in place—you might pierce a wire’s sheathing and create a shock or fire hazard. Instead, support cords on plastic hooks or loops.
Holiday Lights
Before hanging holiday lights, inspect each string for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear. Discard any damaged sets. Use clips, not nails, to hang lights to prevent damage to the cords.
Pro Tip: TOH general contractor Tom Silva stows tools in a belt or nail apron when climbing a ladder to hang holiday lights, keeping both hands free to hold on to the ladder. He also advises that all exterior lights be UL listed for outside use and attached to the house or gutters with all-weather plastic clips. Metal nails and staples can wear away at the PVC insulation surrounding the wires, creating both a shock and spark hazard.
Space Heater Precautions
Space heaters can be a convenient way to warm up a chilly room, but they require careful use. Always keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including furniture, curtains, and holiday decorations. Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet rather than using extension cords or power strips.
Never leave a space heater unattended, especially when sleeping or leaving the house. Choose models with automatic shut-off features and tip-over protection for added safety. Keep children and pets away from space heaters to prevent accidental burns or tipping.
Pro Tip: When shopping for a space heater, opt for a model with an output of 1,500 watts for room heating—anything less is really designed as a desktop appliance. Look for three key features: a tip-over safety switch that automatically shuts off a toppled heater, overheat protection as an additional shutoff mode, and a UL or ETL stamp indicating the heater has passed independent safety testing.
Candles as a Holiday Fire Hazard
Look for candles made from alternative materials like soy or beeswax, which burn cleaner and cooler than paraffin candles. Always use sturdy candleholders that won’t tip over easily.
When using real candles, keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, including decorations, curtains, and furniture. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and always extinguish candles before going to sleep or leaving the room.
Place candles where they can’t be knocked over by children or pets. Avoid using candles in bedrooms, where people may fall asleep. Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Consider using flameless LED candles instead of traditional wax candles. These battery-operated alternatives provide a similar feel without the fire risk. They’re especially useful for decorating Christmas trees, mantels, and other areas where open flames would be dangerous.
Did You Know? Gift Wrap is Flammable
Avoid storing wrapped gifts near heat sources such as lightbulbs, heaters, or in boiler rooms. The paper wrapping can easily catch fire if exposed to heat. When it’s time to open gifts, keep a trash bag handy to contain discarded wrapping paper. Never throw wrapping paper into a fireplace–it can cause a flash fire.
After the holidays, store decorations and unused wrapping paper in a cool, dry place away from heat sources. Consider using plastic storage containers rather than cardboard boxes for added protection against moisture and pests.
