Iam often criticized for being picky about small, insignificantitems such as poor wiring, lack of smoke detectors, fire stopsand window sizing that really didn't mean very much. Well whenfire strikes these items many times make these items make thedifference between life and death. I have been to severalChristmas Day fires including one where several people died andcan tell you they do make the difference. According to statistics from the National Fire ProtectionAssociation (NFPA), the number of fires and fire deathstypically rises sharply during the holiday season. Fires duringthe holiday season injure 2,000 people every year, and causeover $500 million in damages. Gatherings of family and friendscan mean an increase in cooking activity, which is the leadingcause of home fires. Alcohol consumption also tends to increasethis time of year and is cited as a contributing...

... factor in manyof US fire deaths. Add candles, holiday decorations, fireplacesand heating equipment to the mix and the potential for disasteris great. You can protect your home and your family from fire with thesesimple, common sense safety tips:Cooking: Look while you cook--unattended cooking is the leadingcause of kitchen fires. Wear tight-fitting or rolled-up sleeveswhen cooking and keep all combustible materials a safe distancefrom the stove. Cooking or smoking while under the influence ofalcohol can be deadly. Keep a close eye on any drinkers in yourhousehold and make sure all cigarettes are properly extinguishedand the stove is off before going to bed.Candles: Keep candles in a sturdy holder away from children,pets and combustible materials. Snuff them out before leavingthe room.Christmas trees: Nationwide we have had a drought and it'simportant that you make sure to buy a fresh tree. Needles onfresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from thebranches if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should besticky to the touch. When you get home cut ½" off the base ofthe tree and put it in a bucket of water for at least a day.When you bring it inside make sure it's not by any heater vents.Always keep the tree stand filled with water. Discard any brokenor frayed sets of lights when decorating the tree. Always turnoff lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed orleave your home. A short circuit in any of this equipment couldcause a fire. · When you string the lights on your tree becareful to keep all bulbs turned away from gifts and paperornaments. Lights in windows can cause curtains and drapes toignite. Lit candles should never be placed on or near theChristmas tree. When the tree starts to dry out, it's time tothrow it away.Paper Dispose of gift-wrappings soon after opening presents.Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace. It can throw offdangers sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home thatcould d cause an explosion.Space heaters: Keep portable heaters at least 2 feet away fromanything that can burn--including you. Don't use your heaters todry shoes or clothes.Heating appliances: Remember to have your furnace inspected eachyear by a licensed technician. Your fireplace chimney shouldalso be cleaned and inspected annually to prevent problems thatmay cause a build-up of carbon monoxide. A carbon monoxidealarms will alert you to the presence of this deadly gas. Smoke alarms: Over 90% of fire deaths occur in residentialdwellings between 11pm-6am when occupants are asleep. Alarmsshould be installed on every level of your home and outside allsleeping areas. Test your alarms regularly and change thebatteries at least once a year. Most fire departments promotethis practice during Fire Prevention week in October.Home Escape Plan: If a fire does occur in your home, everyonemust get out as quickly as possible. Develop a fire escape planand practice it with your entire family. Have a single meetingspot once everyone exits the house. More home safety information can be found atwww.paccrestinspections.com Attribution 2.5 You are free: · to copy, distribute, display,and perform the work · to make derivative works · to makecommercial use of the work Under the following conditions: Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specifiedby the author or licensor. · For any reuse or distribution, youmust make clear to others the license terms of this work. · Anyof these conditions can be waived if you get permission from thecopyright holder....