Winter Fire Hazards to Watch Out for in Your Minnesota Home

Fires are a danger to homes in Minnesota throughout the year. Many people think of summer as the peak season for fire danger, due to the hot and dry weather. The reality is that winter is actually the worst season for house fires, with December and January being the months during which fires most often break out in our homes. There are two main reasons for this: heating equipment is running at its hottest and there are many holiday decorations that can be fire hazards. Continue reading to learn more about winter fire hazards you should be vigilant for in your Minnesota home.

5 Potential Winter Fire Starters in Your Twin Cities Home

• Space Heaters

Space heaters are one of the main culprits of winter fires in Twin Cities homes. In winter, when temperatures can drop below zero, it’s tempting to keep space heaters running around the clock to keep our homes warm. However, this also greatly increases the chance that your home will suffer a midwinter fire. Space heaters sometimes catch fire due to faulty wiring or because they are dirty and some of that dust takes flame in the heat. However, space heaters most often cause fires when they are left too close to flammable objects such as bedding, blankets, and drapes. Be careful when placing space heaters to avoid this winter fire threat.

• Christmas Trees

Christmas trees are another big reason that house fires become more common during the winter in the Twin Cities metro. The longer a Christmas tree is kept in your home, the drier it will get, and the more its needles will turn into perfect kindling. If holiday lights wrapping a Christmas tree catch fire or if a space heater is placed too close to dry needles, it could easily lead to a fire within your house. One good way to avoid this is to keep your tree watered so that its needles won’t get so dry and will take longer to fall. It’s also best to turn off any holiday lights placed directly on your Christmas tree before going to bed to prevent a fire risk while everyone is sleeping.

• Candles

As the sheer cold of a Minnesota winter sets in, many homeowners light candles to create a cozy atmosphere with their flickering glow, warmth, and lovely scents. However, as nice as it can be to surround yourself with candles, they’re also a serious fire hazard when left unattended. If candles are allowed to burn without supervision, the little flickering flame may soon grow out of control and start a fire. This is especially likely if candles are placed too close to flammable materials such as wrapping paper, cardboard or your Christmas tree. Never leave candles burning when you leave the house or go to bed to mitigate the risk of a candle starting a house fire during the winter.

• Holiday Lights

Hanging holiday lights both inside and outside of your house in the Twin Cities metro area is a great way to share your festive cheer – it can also raise your risk of a fire. Holiday lights, particularly those that go outside, will be weathered over years of usage and storage, increasing the risk of faulty wiring, short circuits, overheating, and, as a result, house fires. Make sure to check whether string lights are designed to be used indoors or outdoors before putting them up. You should also turn your holiday lights off when you’re going to bed or leaving the house to ensure nothing goes wrong when you’re unable to deal with it.

• Kitchen

Fires can happen in the kitchen at any time of year if a hot pan is forgotten on the stove or something is left to roast in the oven for too long. However, during the winter holidays, when homeowners are often frantically trying to prepare elaborate meals for the whole family, kitchen fires are more likely than ever to occur. The simplest and smartest way to avoid a winter kitchen fire is to make sure that no matter how busy it gets, you never leave the food you’re preparing unattended for more than a few minutes.

The Twin Cities’ #1 Fire Damage Restoration Company

If the worst happens and a fire does break out in your home this winter, you’ll need help from a fire damage restoration contractor to get your home back to normal. Contact Arko Restoration today if you need professional fire damage restoration services in the greater Twin Cities area!