Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are peak days for home fires and injuries from inattentive cooking, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Travis County’s fire marshal’s office, the U.S. Fire Administration and NFPA are partnering up for the holidays to spread information about fire safety and fire hazards. Other causes of home fires over the winter are heating appliances, candle fires and Christmas trees.
“Have working smoke alarms, turn off all electrical decorations when leaving your home or sleeping, and never leave cooking appliances, heating sources, or lit candles unattended,” Tony Callaway, Travis County’s chief fire marshal, said. “As always, we want all county residents and visitors to enjoy a happy and safe winter season.”
According to the county, cooking was the leading cause of fires, while heating appliances were the second leading cause of home fires in winter. Space heaters account for 40 percent of home heating equipment fires.
“If you decide to use space heaters, never leave them unattended or powered on when asleep or going out,” a county press release warned. “Have the furnace and chimney checked by professionals, and when heating with wood, dispose of the ashes in a lidded metal ashcan outside the home.”
Candle fires peak in December, particularly on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Christmas Day. Candle fires caused 90 deaths and 670 injuries on average per year between 2015 and 2019, and $291 million in property damage, according to the county.
“Consider using battery-operated candles instead, especially if you have children or pets,” the news release said. “If you must burn candles, never leave them unattended and extinguish all lit candles before heading out or going to sleep.”
Christmas tree fires, though rare, can be severe. Though they account for just 0.1 percent of fire deaths annually, according to the NFPA, it is “significant” that they are only in use for a short time each year and “are not present in many homes.”
About 75 percent of Christmas tree fires occur in January or December – and interestingly, 3 percent occur in June.
“Always keep your Christmas trees watered, place them away from a heat source, turn off all electrical light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed, and dispose of trees promptly after the holidays,” the release continued. “Well-watered trees are not a problem, but a dry and neglected tree can be.”
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Travis County Commissioners Court: The legislative body for Travis County. It includes representatives from the four Travis County Precincts, as well as the County Judge. The County Judge serves as the chair of the Court.
