Healthy Memphis: Make home cozy without risk of winter fire

What you should know

Fires tend to be more common in the winter when we spend a lot of time indoors trying to stay warm and cozy.

Winter fires often start with heating devices, cooking, smoking, candles, and matches. Cooking fires are the primary cause of home fires and fire injuries. The most common time for winter fires is 5 to 8 p.m. Holiday insurance claims are often tied to dry Christmas trees, turkey fryers, fireworks, and candles. Over one-third of candle fires start in bedrooms

The most common disaster response by the American Red Cross is for single-family house fires more than 52,000 U.S. home fires and helping 226,000 people. The Red Cross responds with shelter, food and emotional support.

Space heaters cause one-third of home heating fires and four out of five home heating fire deaths.

Winter electrical fires may start if circuits and receptacles become overloaded or there are shorts in cords or devices.

You could be at a high risk for fires, especially if you live in a home over 30 years old or with fuses. Todays lifestyles often require a large electrical supply all in one place. For example, your desk may have a heater, digital TV, cable box, lamp, and radio nearby. But you might also have a computer with screen, desk phone, printer, modem, mobile phone recharger, speakers, coffee warmer, phone, fax, scanner, and shredder. Many old homes were not build for such high demand in just one room. Some older homes have dangerous aluminum wiring as well.

Working smoke alarms are extremely important for helping you react and escape from a potential fire.

What you should do

Develop a fire escape plan. Practice your plan at least twice a year with everyone, including young children. Ask everyone to meet outside in a specific place in case of a fire. Everyone should know two ways to escape from each room.

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Healthy Memphis: Make home cozy without risk of winter fire