Fall Brings Changing Leaves...and Fire Hazards

9/14/2023 (Permalink)

Fall is some people’s favorite time of year—time for talks around campfires, tailgates, and holidays on the horizon.

With chillier evenings starting up, you can recognize that fall is right around the corner. 

Fall is some people’s favorite time of year—time for talks around campfires, tailgates, and holidays on the horizon. Fall also brings about hazards that we want to get you ready for. So, curl up and give these safety tips a review. 

Campfire Safety 

When you go on a hike or you’re sitting in your backyard, something about a burning fire seems to make the night even more perfect. While some of these things might come as second nature, sometimes we need a simple reminder to bring safety tips to the forefront. 

Knowing where and how to build a campfire is step one. You should keep it away from anything flammable and only use dry wood. As you are trying to get it started, you should never use an accelerant like kerosene or lighter fluid. 

The last step is that once you are done enjoying the fire, you must make sure that your campfire has been completely extinguished. You can slowly douse it with a bucket of water to ensure that all embers have been put out. It doesn’t take much to reignite a fire. 

Space Heaters 

When it becomes chilly in the evenings, sometimes it’s easier to use a portable space heater to warm your area rather than turning on your heater. But space heaters are a common cause for house fires in the fall and winter, so before using one, refresh your memory on the safety tips. 

When using a space heater, first and foremost, it’s important to make sure you keep it on a level surface. While most heaters now come equipped with an automatic shutoff capability in case of a tip-over, you still can’t be too safe. 

Keep it up and out of the way of heavy traffic areas, making sure to keep it on something level and steady so that it can’t be knocked over. 

Halloween 

Fall festivities and the holidays are right around the corner. The best part of fall and the holidays is decorating your home so that you can help get yourself in a more festive mood, or to help others feel welcome. 

But when decorating, it’s best to remember that candles, costumes or décor are all potential fire hazards. It’s smart to stay attentive to your décor when you are putting it out, but also throughout the season.