Try not to have too many balls in the air and do too much at the same time when cooking, is a brief summary of the Fire Protection Association's recommendations to reduce the risk of fires during Christmas.
The stove is the big villain. It's because you forget that you have something on it and it dries out. If it gets hot enough, it starts burning, and if you also have a lot of other flammable junk around the stove, there's a high risk that it will spread, says Mats Björs.
Dirty vents can burn
SOS Alarm receives around 1,400 alarms about residential fires during December and January, about 20 percent more compared to other months, according to the Fire Protection Association.
The organization has long driven the issue of more people installing a so-called stove guard, a device that turns off the stove if it gets too hot.
A somewhat simpler tip is to use a timer that reminds you when the cooking is done. Another important safety measure is to clean the kitchen vent from time to time and check the fat filter.
The vent is quite dangerous if it's not cleaned. If flames erupt in a pot, it can spread into the vent system and further up into the house, says Björs.
Keep an eye on children and pets
The Fire Protection Association also highlights old Christmas lights as a source of fires, especially if they are worn out and not CE-marked.
Another worry is live candles that are placed on flammable surfaces or are too close to curtains or other things that can easily catch fire.
You should always extinguish live candles when leaving the room, and if you have children or pets at home, you should be careful about having them near live candles, says Björs.
If an accident still occurs, a smoke detector, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, and home insurance can be of great help, according to the Fire Protection Association.
There are things you can do to prevent fires – and be prepared if an accident still occurs.
1. Clean the kitchen vent. If a lot of fat and dust have accumulated, a flame on the stove can spread to the vent and in the worst case, the vent system.
2. Don't leave the stove unattended.
3. Don't have flammable things near the stove.
4. If a fire starts when cooking fatty food – don't try to put it out with water, but instead, put a lid over it or something else that smothers the flames.
5. Have a fire blanket and/or fire extinguisher nearby.
6. Turn off the electric Advent candle by switching off the power button or unplugging it, not by screwing out one of the lights.
7. Always keep an eye on live candles and don't place warm candles directly on the table.
8. Make sure the smoke detector is working.
Source: SOS Alarm, Fire Protection Association
