Did you know that most home fires occur during the holiday season, especially during the months of December and January? All the extra cooking and baking, decorating, and other distractions join forces to create a less-safe environment.

Fortunately, taking a few safety precautions before and while decorating can help reduce the risk of an accidental fire.

In the Kitchen

• Check up on food regularly while cooking, and never leave the house while the oven or cooktop is on. Set a timer to remind you that something is in the oven or on the stove. And, when possible, use only the back burners when cooking on  the stove to help protect small children from accidental burns.

• Keep flammable items away from the stove, oven or any other appliance that generates heat.

• Clean your cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease build-up.

Oh, Christmas Tree!

• If yours is an artificial holiday tree, don’t string lights on it unless it’s labeled as fire resistant.

• If you opt for the real deal, cut 1-2” off the bottom of your pre-cut tree. This will help the tree absorb water and keep it from drying out.

• Place the tree away from heating vents, your fireplace, wood-burning stove, and other sources of heat. And water it daily.

Holiday Lights

• Before you decorate the tree or your home with lights, plug in each strand to make sure it works and check for loose of broken bulbs, faulty connections, and frayed wires.

• Only choose lights that are inspected and approved by a national testing laboratory like UL.

• If you plan on hanging lights outdoors, make sure they are approved for outdoor use, as not all are. And never use screws or nails to secure lights to your home.

• Only GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets should be used for plugging in outdoor lights to help prevent shock or electrocution.

Here at Excel Electric, providing you with added home comfort and safety is more than our job.  It’s our pleasure.   Today and always, we’re here to do whatever we can to help.