Did you know home fires are most common during December and January? Festive lights and cooking for the whole family can result in sparks, both literal and metaphorical.

Here are a few tips you can use year-round to prevent fires in your home:

Take extra care in the kitchen. Flames can spread in a matter of seconds, so it’s important to be prepared and cook with care. Never leave the kitchen when you’re broiling or cooking on the stove. Never leave the house when the oven is on. Use oven mitts instead of a dishtowel, and always use a timer when you have something cooking.

Consider ditching the butts. Smoking isn’t just bad for your lungs. Cigarettes are the fifth-leading cause of home fires in Canada, and the leading cause of fire-related deaths in Canada and around the world. When forgotten cigarettes smolder undetected, they can cause death by smoke inhalation. It’s much more common to die from inhaling smoke than it is to die from the flames of the fire. If you just can’t quit, consider smoking outside your home, and especially outside your bedroom. Never leave a lit cigarette in an ashtray unattended and extinguish cigarettes in water.

Don’t be a hero. When flames appear, many people try to extinguish the flames themselves rather than call the fire department. While you might think you’re saving the day, you could be making it worse. The difference between a home that’s destroyed and a home with a bit of damage could be those few minutes you wasted before calling the fire department. Fire fighters are experts in putting out fires, and they are standing by 24/7 to help and protect their community.As an additional precaution, always have an up-to-date home inventory of your household belongings. Belairdirect has one on their blog that’s simple and user friendly.

Whether you’re a tenant or homeowner, you don’t want your home and its belongings damaged by fire. For more fire safety tips, you can check out the Belairdirect blog.

credit- newscanada