Did you know that the winter months are the leading time of year for home fires?  Whether you are a property manager, building owner or tenant there are ways to prevent these home fires.  There are several factors that contribute to the increased risk of homes fires during the winter months which include cooking, candles, and heating.  We’ve compiled a short list as a reference to help prevent any unwanted fires.

When cooking during the winter months, there are a few things to keep in mind in terms of safety:

• Never leave food that is cooking on the stove or in the oven unattended.
• Frying poses the greatest risk of fire; consider baking things you would normally fry on a stovetop to reduce this risk.
• Make sure your clothing is secure on your body and nowhere near an open flame.

While using candles during the winter months, there are obvious risks involved.  Reduce those risks by following a few safety tips which include:

• Never leaving a burning candle unattended.
• Place burning candles at least two feet away from any drapery, edges, plants, or anything else that could potentially catch on fire.
• Place candles up high enough that young children and pets cannot reach and accidentally knock over.

It is always important to keep fire safety in mind when heating your home during the winter months.  Statistics show that heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths in the U.S.  Tips to help ensure a home fire does not occur in your home or building include:

• Making sure the furnace in your building has been inspected and serviced is a major safety precaution. Furnaces should be served at least once a year by a qualified professional.
• Make sure if your tenants use space heaters in their units, that they have an automatic shut-off feature.
• Test all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors regularly.

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