Winter traditionally brings with it an increase in the number of home fires and the U.S. Fire Administration and National Fire Protection Association are working together in an effort to reduce the risk of fire, by reminding homeowners to exercise caution, and to observe a few simple rules that will lessen the chance of a dangerous fire occurring during the colder weather. 

Winter traditionally brings with it an increase in the number of home fires – due in part to an increase in cooking and heating fires; holiday decorations and alternative heating sources also contribute to the increased risk of fire in winter.

Winter residential building fires result in an estimated average of 945 deaths and some 3,825 injuries, not to mention property loss.

Cooking is the leading cause of all winter residential building fires, occurring mainly in the early evening hours, peaking between 5:00 and 8:00pm.

It`s a recipe for serious injury or even death to wear loose clothing (especially hanging sleeves), to walk away from a cooking pot on the stove, or leave flammable materials, such as potholders or paper towels, around the stove.

Each year in America, carbon monoxide poisoning claims approximately 400 lives and sends another 20,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.

Decorating homes and businesses is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately these same decorations may increase your chances of fire, based on data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) & the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 250 home fires involving Christmas trees, and another 170 home fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting occur each year.

With the holidays fast approaching and the increased usage of seasonal decorations, it`s important to focus on candle fire safety and prevention.

Because the majority of candle fires result from human error and negligence, candle fires and their associated casualties are preventable.

Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure more than 2,000 more.

Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects – but, many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, by incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords.

The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities has caused many Americans to look for alternate sources of home heating; the use of wood burning stoves is growing and space heaters are selling rapidly or coming out of storage; fireplaces are burning wood & man- made logs. All these methods of heating may be acceptable. They are however, a major contributing factor in residential fires; many of these fires can be prevented by exercising caution and common sense.