3 ways to keep your holidays from going up in flames

By Christina Seidel, CSFD Public Education Officer

The holiday season represents a time for family fun and good cheer, but Christmas trees, cooking, candles and decorations – not to mention the hectic pace of the season – can greatly increase the risk of home fires.

Fortunately, with a little awareness and some minor adjustments to your cooking and decorating habits, the season can remain festive and safe. The National Fire Protection Association and the College Station Fire Department offer these tips:

Pay attention when cooking.

With unattended cooking being the leading cause of home fires and injuries, we recommend staying in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling or broiling food. Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop and turn off it off if you leave the kitchen even for a moment. If you’re simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.

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Fire, Public Communications

Time to adjust your clock, check your smoke alarm

When you reset your clocks Sunday to Daylight Saving Time, the College Station Fire Department recommends that you change your smoke alarm batteries and test your alarms.

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing that can alert you and your family to a fire around the clock and significantly increases your chance of survival. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm constantly scans the air in your home for smoke.

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