Avoid these common Christmas fire hazards in 2024.
Apartment Complex Burns, Killing Woman and Displacing Residents
According to a KSAT News report, a woman was killed in a major apartment complex fire yesterday.
SAFD reported the fire started just after 11 a.m. on December 22nd at the Fredericksburg Place Apartment complex in the 3400 block of Fredericksburg Road on the Northwest Side. Fire officials arrived to find significant flames throughout the building. They managed to put out the fire, but multiple units were damaged, and a woman trapped on her balcony was pronounced dead when they reached her. No other injuries were reported, but at least one family was displaced. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Did You Know?
There is an average of 35 home fires caused by candles on Christmas Day every year.
Common Christmas Fire Hazards and How to Avoid Them in 2024
Don’t be one of the hundreds of families displaced or devastated by Christmas fires this year.
December is the peak month for home fires, and holiday celebrations are a major cause of them. As you begin final preparations for your holiday celebrations, educate yourself on the top fire risks of this season and how you can avoid them.
#1 — Christmas Tree Fires
At least 155 home fires per year between 2018 and 2022 were caused by Christmas trees, causing an average of four deaths and seven injuries.
- Two in 5 (40%) start in the living room,
- Electrical errors in lighting equipment caused slightly more than two in five (41%) fires,
- Slightly more than one in 10 (11%) were caused by candles,
- And one in five (20%) were caused by lamps/bulbs.
You can reduce your risk of a Christmas tree fire by:
- Placing trees at least 3 feet away from any heat source,
- Make sure you never use outdoor-only lights on your tree,
- Keep trees hydrated by adding water every day,
- Ensure you don’t overload any one outlet with electric trees and other decorations/appliances.
Did You Know?
Many Christmas tree fires happen in January when trees are more likely to be dried out. Take your tree outside and place it away from your house immediately when you’re finished using it.
#2 — Christmas Decorations
Nationwide, the fire department responded to 835 structure fires per year between 2018 and 2022 caused by Christmas decorations (excluding Christmas trees), resulting in an average of three deaths and 30 injuries.
- 46% of home fires in December are caused by candles,
- Roughly 80% of Christmas fires are caused by decorations other than Christmas trees.
You can reduce your risk of a holiday decoration fire by:
- Keeping candles at least 12 inches from anything flammable,
- Using LED lights instead of incandescent lights,
- Ensuring electrical cords are in good condition,
- Never putting more than three strings of incandescent lights together,
- Using hooks instead of nails to hang lights,
- Using electric candles,
- Avoid overloading outlets/power strips,
- And choosing flame-resistant decorations.
#3 — Cooking Fires
The top three days of the year for cooking fires are Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve.
- Two-thirds of home cooking fires start by igniting food or other cooking materials.
- Clothing is the item first ignited in less than 1% of home cooking fires, but clothing ignitions caused 8% of the home cooking fire deaths.
- Ranges or cooktops account for over half (53%) of home cooking fire incidents.
- Unattended equipment is a factor in over one quarter (29%) of reported home cooking fires and half of the associated deaths.
You can reduce your risk of cooking fires during the holidays by:
- Keeping decorations away from cooking surfaces, crockpots, and space heaters,
- Never leaving the stove/oven on and unattended,
- Avoiding overloading electrical outlets with multiple appliances (i.e., pressure cookers, air fryers, griddles, etc.),
- Never using a heavy-duty kitchen appliance on an extension cord,
- Keeping clothing away from heat sources,
- Setting timers to avoid forgetting food in the oven,
- And keeping a lid nearby when frying anything in oil.
Of course, you can do everything right and still be injured in a Christmas fire.
Injured in a Christmas Fire? Call Shaw!
If you or a loved one were injured in a Christmas fire caused by a defective decoration, kitchen product, or space heater, you could be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Ambulance Costs,
- ER Treatment,
- Surgeries,
- Disfigurement,
- Pain and Suffering,
- Trauma/PTSD,
- Wrongful Death,
- And More.
We’ll help you find out if they have a case for free.
Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 to schedule a free case evaluation with a defective product attorney. No fees, no obligations, just the expert legal advice you need. We’re a trusted name throughout Texas because we put our clients first. We look forward to serving you.