Fire Safety During the Holidays

While you’re gearing up for holidays in a different way, one thing never changes. That is you need to keep fire safety in front of your tenants at all times. While they may not be having as large of a gathering as normal, there will still be cooking, Christmas trees and other celebrations. It’s important that as the HOA member, you keep your complex in the know when it deals with Chicago fire safety protocols.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to the holiday season. Don’t be caught in a tricky situation simply because you didn’t prepare. Take these fire safety tips in Chicago into consideration.

Cooking – Whether you’re cooking for your family or for friends as well, be safe when you start the process. There may be more people in your home, and you need to remember the basic safety rules. Make sure all children stay out of the kitchen or away from the ovens. Keep potholders and flammable items away from any flame or hot surfaces.
Trees – Make sure if you use a real tree that it is watered every day. Keeping the tree moist will help prevent the dry needles from catching fire. Also, if you put multiple strings of lights on the tree, ensure that you’re not putting more than three light strings plugged in to each other. Minimizing the amount that is plugged in to the others will help prevent a short or electrical problem. Ensure that there are not broken light bulbs in your strands either before you plug them in.
Candles – With the Jewish holiday, candles are a prime part of the experience. Always keep the candles in the menorah or any other area safe from flammable materials. Don’t let children play near them and always blow them out before leaving it unattended.
Fireplace and Heaters – Be sure that your space heaters or the electric fireplace you have is kept a safe distance away from items that may catch fire. Never leave these items on when you’re leaving the home. Ensure your safety and that of the others inside by turning them off when you’re sleeping or leaving for a time.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when it comes to protecting your family this holiday season. Tragically, many fires happen during this time due to simple things that could have been prevented. Go over fire safety in Chicago with the tenants of your building to ensure everyone is prepared and kept up to date. Check smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors and have your fire inspections done regularly.

If you need help with more fire safety in the Chicago area, be sure to contact Connected Fire. We provide a variety of safety features and maintenance to help you stay up to code, protect your tenants, and prevent a tragedy in your building.