NFPA launches campaign for holiday fire awareness
The National Fire Protection Association has announced the launch of its Project Holiday campaign to raise awareness of the potential risk of fires during the holiday season.
As a nonprofit organization, the NFPA works toward eliminating many of the disastrous results caused by fires. It also strives to educate and inform the public about fire safety standards and potentially dangerous practices.
The NFPA lists decorations, Christmas trees, candles and holiday cooking as potential sources of the annual increase in house fires that occurs in December.
Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy at the NFPA Lorraine Carli said in a release that the holiday season ist full of potentially dangerous traditions.
“The holidays bring lots of opportunities to cook, entertain and decorate at home, but many of these traditions and activities carry potential fire hazards,” Carli said.
A release by the NFPA cites cooking fires as the leading cause of house fires in the U.S. and adds that cooking fires increased by over 50 percent on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2014.
The NFPA also stated that while Christmas tree fires were less common to occur than cooking fires, they are four times as likely to result in death than normal house fires.
Candles also made the NFPA’s list of holiday dangers. According to the release, New Year’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve are the top four days for candle fires.
It should come as no surprise that holiday decorations are included on the NFPA’s list as well. According to the NFPA, decorations cause an annual average of 860 house fires and $13.4 million in property damage.
Carli added that holiday house fires are avoidable, even for those who love to revel in the holiday spirit.
“It just takes a little added awareness and following some basic safety precautions,” Carli said.
More information about how to prevent and avoid holiday house fires is available online at http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/wildfire-and-seasonal-fires/winter-holiday-safety.
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