As families prepare for Thanksgiving dinners and December celebrations, the American Red Cross of Western New York is urging residents to take extra care in the kitchen and around holiday decorations, warning that home fires jump sharply during the holiday season.
One in five people the Red Cross assists after home fires are helped in just the holiday months, said Ken Turner, regional disaster officer for the Red Cross of Western New York. Home fires can strike quickly, leaving you with as little as two minutes to escape. Help protect your loved ones by practicing your home fire escape drill until everyone can get out in less than two minutes, he adds.
In the Kitchen: Stay Put, Stay Focused
Cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, particularly during the holidays. The Red Cross stresses the importance of staying in the kitchen whenever food is frying, grilling or broiling — and turning off the stove if you must step away, even briefly.
Residents are urged to use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on, avoid loose or dangling sleeves while cooking, and keep children and pets at least three feet from the cooking area. Anything that can catch fire — potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels or curtains — should be kept well away from stovetops and other heat-producing appliances.
Regularly cleaning cooking surfaces to prevent grease buildup and having a fire extinguisher handy in the kitchen are also recommended. Before going to bed or leaving home, the Red Cross advises, homeowners should double-check that all stoves, ovens and small appliances have been turned off.
More detailed guidance and a printable fire escape plan are available at redcross.org/fire
Candles, Heaters and Holiday Lights
December is the peak month for candle fires, which cause about 20 home fires a day on average in the United States, according to the Red Cross. Heating equipment remains one of the leading causes of home fires as well.
The organization advises providing at least three feet of space around all heating equipment — a critical buffer because many heating fires begin when furniture, rugs or drapes are too close to radiators, stoves or space heaters. Space heaters should never be left unattended and should be placed on a level, hard, nonflammable surface, such as ceramic tile, not on rugs, carpets or near bedding or curtains. They should be turned off every time a room is left or residents go to sleep.
If candles are used, they should be kept away from anything that could burn and placed out of reach of pets and children. Burning candles should never be left unattended.
The Red Cross also encourages families to test smoke alarms monthly and practice home fire escape plans until everyone can escape in two minutes or less. Smoke alarms should be installed near the kitchen, on every level of the home, near sleeping areas and inside and outside bedrooms if doors are kept closed at night. Batteries should be replaced at least once a year.
For those unable to afford smoke alarms or physically unable to install them, the Red Cross may be able to help through its Sound the Alarm initiative. Information is available at SoundtheAlarm.org/wny or through local Red Cross offices.
A Campaign Focused on Prevention
Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has helped save at least 2,489 lives nationwide by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk neighborhoods.
To learn more about the campaign or to get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires
