As the temperatures drop and the holidays approach, there’s nothing cozier than gathering around a fireplace, lighting festive candles, or admiring the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree. However, with the warmth and joy of the season comes the need for extra vigilance to prevent fire hazards in your home.
At Wannco Services, we’re proud to serve our local North Texas communities as demolition and excavation experts, but we’d much rather meet you at a local event or around town—not when you’re dealing with the devastation of a house fire and in need of demolition and cleanup. To help keep you safe this season and avoid needing our fire damage demolition services, we’ve compiled some essential fire safety tips as just a reminder to ensure your holidays remain merry and bright.
1. Fireplaces and Firepits
- Clean the chimney: Creosote buildup in your chimney can ignite. Schedule a professional cleaning annually to keep your fireplace safe.
- Use a screen: A fireplace screen prevents sparks and embers from escaping and igniting nearby items.
- Stay alert: Never leave a fire burning unattended. Always extinguish it before going to bed or leaving the house.
2. Space Heaters
- Keep it clear: Maintain at least three feet of clearance around space heaters, especially from curtains, furniture, and bedding.
- Turn it off: Always turn off space heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Use the right kind: Opt for models with an automatic shut-off feature in case they tip over.
3. Candles
- Stay in the room: Never leave candles burning unattended, especially near flammable decorations.
- Use sturdy holders: Make sure candles are in secure, non-flammable holders that won’t tip over.
- Switch to LED: Consider battery-operated LED candles for the same ambiance without the risk.
4. Holiday Lights and Decorations
- Inspect the wires: Check lights for frayed cords, damaged sockets, or loose connections before use.
- Don’t overload outlets: Plugging too many devices into a single outlet or extension cord can cause overheating.
- Turn off when unattended: Unplug lights when you leave the house or go to bed.
5. Have a Plan
- Install smoke detectors: Test your smoke alarms monthly and replace the batteries as needed.
- Keep extinguishers handy: Place fire extinguishers in key areas like the kitchen, living room, and near fireplaces.
- Know your escape route: Ensure all family members know the quickest way to exit the house in an emergency.
We’re Here If You Need Us
While taking these precautions can significantly reduce the risk of a fire, accidents can still happen. At Wannco Services, as a demolition contractor, we’ve seen firsthand how devastating fire damage can be for families in our North Texas communities. If you find yourself facing the unimaginable and need demolition and cleanup services during a fire damage restoration project, our compassionate team is here to help.
Our families live, work, and play in this community and we are your neighbor. Therefore, we take great pride in supporting our neighbors during challenging times, lifting you up, and providing reliable, professional service to make the road to recovery a little easier.
This holiday season, stay safe, stay warm, and remember—we’re always here to help, but we’d much rather you enjoy your home than have to demolish it.
From all of us at Wannco Services, we wish you a happy, healthy, and fire-safe holiday season!
