University of Florida

Winter Fire Safety


The holidays and winter months present their own specific safety hazards. Learn how to protect yourself and your family by minimizing the risk of house fires.

General Precautions

Following these tips can help make life safer year-round.

  • Install at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms or other sleeping areas.
  • Clean the lint trap of your clothes dryer after every load, and vacuum out the exhaust hose once a year. If your hose is made of ribbed vinyl, replace it with aluminum pipe that won't kink or catch fire.
  • Keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen, laundry room, and garage. An extinguisher with an ABC rating can fight fires caused by paper, wood, cloth, flammable liquids, and electrical short circuits.
  • Place escape ladders near a window inf all bedrooms above ground level, and have a family escape plan.

Heating the Home

Fireplaces

At the beginning of each winter season, get your chimney inspected by a professional before using it. Creosote--a chemical substance that forms when wood burns--builds up inside chimneys and can cause a fire if the chimney is not properly cleaned.

Use a sturdy fireplace screen to keep the fire contained. If you are purchasing a factory-built fireplace, select one listed by a testing laboratory and have it installed according to local codes.

Never use flammable liquids in a fireplace. Never burn paper or pine boughs; these materials can float out of the chimney and ignite a neighboring home. For the same reason, do not use your live cut Christmas tree for firewood after the holidays. Wrapping paper also produces toxic fumes when it burns.

Portable Heaters & Space Heaters

Place space heaters at least three feet away from flammable items, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing, pets, and people. Do not use heaters to dry clothing. Small children and pets should not be left alone with heaters. Make sure to turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Wood & Coal Stoves

Only buy a wood or coal stove that is certified by a recognized testing laboratory and meets local fire codes. Research local codes and check with your local fire department before having your wood stove installed. You may also need approval from your home insurance company.

Place the wood stove on an approved stove board to protect the floor from heat and hot coals. Follow manufacturers' recommendations for proper use and maintenance. Get the chimney connections and flues inspected at the beginning of each heating season, and have them cleaned if necessary. Burn only wood or coal--not paper, pine, or trash.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces, and motor vehicles. Keep a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Treat any activations as real. Evacuate the house, leaving the door open for ventiation, and contact the fire department from a cell phone or a neighbor's house.

Electric Blankets

Only purchase electric blankets that are certified by an independent testing lab. Make sure they are in good repair before using them. Do not use a blanket that has a frayed, cracked, or cut power cord.

Do not tuck your electric blanket into mattresses or mattress pads. Do not allow children or pets to lay on electric blankets. Do not put comforters, bedspreads, or anything else on top of the blanket while it is turned on.

Cooking & Kitchen Safety

When cooking, do not wear loose fitting clothing that can be ignited by hot burners. Turn off burners as soon as you finish using them. The stovetop should be free of clutter at all times. Towels, pot holders, bags, and other items can catch fire if left on or near a hot stove.

Keep kitchen appliances clean and in good condition, and turn them off when you're done using them. Throw away appliances with frayed or cracked wires, or replace the cord before using them. Do not overload electrical outlets.

Although turkey fryers may produce delicious holiday dinners, they are highly flammable. The units can easily tip--spilling oil onto the burner or flames below--or heat the oil so much that it explodes. The outsides of the units also reach extremely high temperatures, creating burn hazards.

Holiday Lights

Wherever possible, decorate only with flame-retardant or noncombustible materials.

Candles

Avoid using candles, especially during parties. If you choose to decorate with candles, use them sparingly. Keep them away from decorations or other combustible materials. Do not put lighted candles near exits or in windows; never use lighted candles as tree decorations. For a safer alternative, use electric candles.

Always keep candles, matches, and lighters out of the reach of children. Do not leave children unattended with lighted candles.

Electric Lights

Purchase lighted decorations that are certified by an independent testing lab. Pay attention to labels. Keep indoor lights inside and use outdoor lights outside only.

Check that extension cords and strings of holiday lights are in good repair, with no fraying, cracking, or cuts. Keep power and extension cords out of pathways, but do not tuck them under rugs, carpets, or curtains. Do not coil power cords or extension cords while in use. They may overheat, causing a fire hazard.

Never connect more than three strands of decorative lights together. Make sure all connections--including the outlet--are tight and protected from moisture. Unplug the lights from the outlet when not in use.

If you use a spotlight to highlight decorations, keep the light well-ventilated and protected from the elements. Place the spotlight a safe distance away from flammable items, such as plants, dry leaves, or fabric decorations. Do not use colored plastic wrap to change the color of the light.

Christmas Trees

Flammability

Although many artificial trees are advertised as fire retardant, they can still catch fire. A burning artificial tree will melt and produce toxic smoke. A well maintained real tree--kept watered at all times--is more fire resistant.

To prevent your tree from catching fire, place it well away from fireplaces, radiators, and other heat sources. If you have a live cut tree, keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Candles & Lights

Never put lighted candles on your Christmas tree. The effect may be pretty, but the flames can easily set the tree on fire. For a similar look, use strings of indoor lights. Turn off all tree lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

 Before you put the lights on the tree, check for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. If a light string is damaged in any way, repair or replace it. Do not plug more than three light sets into one extension cord.

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