There were 15 fire-related deaths reported in Illinois during the 2019 holiday season. The state fire marshal is urging residents to practice fire safety when decorating for this holiday season with a goal of reducing the number to zero this year.
Holiday decorations can increase the risk for a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) more than two of every five home decoration fires occur due to decorations being placed too close to a heat source. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles.
The NFPA also reports that U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 780 home structure fires per year that began with decorations between 2013-2017.
Candle fires peak in December followed closely by January. The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve. Residents should be sure all candles are extinguished before leaving home or before going to bed.
Picture Source: Getstencil
