Causes of Fires During the Holidays

12/4/2023 (Permalink)

The holiday season, filled with festive decorations and gatherings, brings warmth and joy to homes across the world. However, amidst the celebrations, there are various potential fire hazards that can pose a significant risk to both property and lives.

Christmas trees, candles, holiday lights, fireplaces, and space heaters are some of the biggest culprits. It is crucial to be aware of these potential fire triggers and take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and joyful holiday season for everyone. We're here to tell you a bit more about these hazards but also explain how we can help with your fire damage restoration needs. Let's talk about fire damage, smoke damage, and more!

Oh, Christmas Tree

Christmas trees, while beautiful symbols of the holiday season, can pose a significant fire hazard if not handled and maintained with care. The combination of dry needles, electrical lighting, and heat sources can turn a festive centerpiece into a potential disaster. As the tree dries out over time, it becomes increasingly flammable, making it susceptible to catching fire from faulty wiring or overheated bulbs.

Once ignited, a Christmas tree fire can spread rapidly, engulfing an entire room within seconds and putting lives and property at risk.

To minimize this hazard, it is essential to keep the tree well-watered, inspect and replace damaged lights, and never leave the tree unattended, especially when decorative lights are on. Being mindful of these precautions can ensure that the joy of having a Christmas tree doesn't compromise safety during the holiday season.

Candles

During the holiday season, candles are frequently used to create a warm and festive atmosphere, but they can quickly become a fire hazard if not handled with caution. The combination of decorative candles, holiday festivities, and increased indoor activities raises the risk of accidents. Candles placed near holiday decorations or in the proximity of combustible materials can easily ignite, leading to potentially disastrous fires.

Additionally, when multiple candles are lit together, the risk escalates as the close proximity of open flames can result in rapid fire spread. To prevent such hazards, it's crucial to place candles on stable, non-flammable surfaces, away from decorations, curtains, and other flammable objects.

Always supervise lit candles, extinguish them before leaving the room, and consider using flameless LED candles as a safer alternative to enjoy the holiday ambiance without the risk of fire.

Holiday Lights

Holiday lights, while enchanting and festive, can pose a significant fire hazard if not used and maintained properly. Overloaded electrical circuits, damaged wires, or faulty bulbs can lead to electrical sparks and fires.

When left unattended or placed near flammable materials like curtains or dry foliage, these sparks can quickly escalate into a dangerous blaze. Additionally, the heat generated by incandescent bulbs can dry out natural decorations, increasing their flammability.

To minimize the risk, it's essential to inspect lights for any signs of wear and tear, avoid overloading electrical outlets, and turn off decorative lights when leaving the house or going to bed. Opting for LED lights, which emit less heat, can also reduce the likelihood of fire accidents during the holiday season.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces, synonymous with cozy winter evenings, can become unexpected fire hazards if not used and maintained cautiously. Creosote buildup in chimneys, resulting from burning wood, can lead to chimney fires, causing flames to escape and potentially ignite the roof or nearby structures.

Improperly installed or damaged chimney liners can also allow heat to reach combustible parts of the house, posing a significant risk. Sparks and embers can escape through an open fireplace or poorly fitted doors, igniting flammable materials in the vicinity.

It's vital to have regular chimney inspections and cleanings, use a spark guard, and ensure proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Practicing responsible fireplace usage and adhering to safety guidelines are crucial to enjoying the warmth of fire without the risk of a hazardous one.

Space Heaters

Space heaters, while providing much-needed warmth, can be potential fire hazards if not used with caution. These portable devices, if placed too close to combustible materials such as curtains, bedding, or furniture, can quickly ignite a fire.

Additionally, faulty wiring or damaged electrical cords in space heaters can lead to electrical sparks, causing nearby flammable items to catch fire. Lack of proper ventilation or overheating can also escalate the risk, especially in enclosed spaces.

To minimize these hazards, it's essential to keep space heaters at a safe distance from any combustible materials, ensure they have a tip-over switch that turns off the heater if it falls over, and never leave them unattended. Regular maintenance, proper usage, and following manufacturer's guidelines are crucial to prevent space heaters from turning into dangerous sources of fire in homes.

Fire Damage Restoration and Repair

Aside from the fire, smoke, and soot damage, your Hoboken residence might also experience water damage due to firefighting efforts. Coping with this kind of destruction can be overwhelming and distressing for your family. Feeling stressed, confused, and vulnerable, you require a compassionate expert to assist you during this crisis.

At SERVPRO of Hoboken/ Union City, we understand the emotional toll such incidents take, and we are here to guide you with respect and empathy. Your home and belongings will always be treated with utmost care. Specializing in fire and water damage restoration, we possess the necessary training, skilled personnel, and advanced equipment to swiftly restore your home to its pre-fire condition.

For valuable advice on handling fire damage until professional help arrives, please consult our Fire Damage Tips Guide and follow the suggested steps to safeguard yourself and your property.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Process

Every smoke and fire damage incident is unique, demanding a customized solution tailored to its specific conditions. Different materials burn, resulting in distinct types of soot and residue that necessitate specific cleaning methods. The following steps outline our approach to the "typical" fire damage restoration process. To delve deeper into our fire damage restoration process, explore further details on our website.

1. Emergency Contact
2. Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment
3. Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp (if needed)
4. Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)
5. Removal of Smoke and Soot Removal from All Surfaces
6. Cleanup and Repair
7. Restoration

Why SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City?

Well, for starters, we're faster to any size disaster, we're a 24-hour emergency service, we are locally owned and operated, we're a trusted leader in the restoration industry, and we're highly trained fire and restoration technicians.

Caring For Your Belongings

The scent of fire should evoke memories of summer nights and BBQs, not cling to your clothes or household possessions. Fire damage, including smoke and soot, not only impacts your home's structure but also your cherished belongings.

At SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City, we understand that your family's furniture, clothes, mementos, and possessions transform your house into a home. If you've faced a fire, reach out to us today and let us guide you through the process of restoring your items. Additionally, we provide storage lockers where meticulously cleaned and sanitized items are safely kept after a fire.

We are dedicated to restoring belongings affected by water, fire, or mold damage. Our specialized skills and focus on restoration over replacement not only save you money but also safeguard irreplaceable keepsakes.

Beforehand, we conduct thorough pretests on your items to identify what can be restored to their pre-damaged state. Our cleaning techniques encompass various methods, such as:

• Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or pre-clean prior to wet cleaning.
• Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues.
• Spray and Wipe - Effective for items that can't withstand wet cleaning.
• Foam Cleaning - Used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if wet cleaned.
• Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned.
• Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product.

Move-Outs/Pack-Outs

If your home needs extensive restoration or cleaning after fire damage, SERVPRO can efficiently organize a move-out of the affected area. This move-out process offers several advantages, such as:

• Speeding up the remodeling procedure
• Safeguarding items from potential harm
• Shielding contents from further damage

Once the restoration is finished, we'll collaborate with you to arrange the move-in based on your requirements. The services provided during the move-in phase might vary depending on your insurance coverage.

About SERVPRO Team Harvey

SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City is proudly owned by Lance and Jennifer Harvey - a husband and wife duo that owns two other SERVPRO locations, including SERVPRO of West Somerset County and SERVPRO of Aberdeen/Holmdel.

If you have an emergency, we're here to help. We understand the stress and worry that comes with a fire or water damage and the disruption it causes your home or business. Our goal is to help minimize the interruption to your life and quickly make it “like it never even happened.”

Learn about TEAM HARVEY: VIDEO