{"id":118,"date":"2008-12-06T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-12-06T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/noyeshallallen.wordpress.com\/2008\/12\/06\/manage-the-four-cs-of-winter-fire-risks\/"},"modified":"2017-11-09T08:54:29","modified_gmt":"2017-11-09T14:54:29","slug":"manage-the-four-cs-of-winter-fire-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/manage-the-four-cs-of-winter-fire-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"Manage the &#8220;Four C&#8217;s&#8221; of Winter Fire Risks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\">Thanksgiving, Chanukkah, Christmas, and New Year\u2019s Eve\u2014these holidays mean celebrations, many of them in decorated homes filled with merry-making family members and friends. Unfortunately, this joyous time is also the height of house fire season.\u00a0The National Fire Protection Association (<a title=\"NFPA home page\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nfpa.org\/index.asp\" target=\"_blank\">NFPA<\/a>) reports that the 10 worst days for fires in homes fall between December 24 and January 6. Although <a title=\"Maine Home Insurance and Homeowners Insurance Quotes from Noyes Hall &amp; Allen\" href=\"http:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/personal-insurance-landing\/homeowners-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\">Maine homeowners insurance<\/a> policies cover fire damage, no one wants to suffer a fire.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Fortunately, these risks can be reduced with safe practices that address the \u201cfour Cs\u201d of winter fires: chimneys, candles, Christmas trees and children.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\"><strong><em>Chimneys<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Creosote buildup or chimney blockage can catch fire. Chimney fires are unpredictable: they can be noisy and fierce, or can smolder undetected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Common-sense tips:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\">\n<ul>\n<li>If you haven\u2019t checked or cleaned the chimney in the past two years, don\u2019t use it.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Have a pro inspect the chimney for creosote (which is what builds up in a chimney and fuels a chimney fire)<\/li>\n<li>Use dry wood. This minimizes creosote buildup.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t burn wrapping paper, boxes, trash or Christmas trees.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t use liquid to start a chimney fire. Use kindling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Remember fireplace basics, too: use a screen to contain sparks; and let ashes cool before disposing of them in a metal container.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\"><strong><em>Candles<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Home-candle fires happen on Christmas Day more often than any other day, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Next worst: New Year\u2019s Day and Christmas Eve. How do they start? Half of home-candle fires begin because an item is left near a lit candle. Four of 10 home candle fires start in bedrooms, with bedding, furniture, and curtains igniting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Common-sense tips:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Make sure all candles are out before you leave a room or go to bed.<\/li>\n<li>Keep clothing, curtains, furniture, and other flammable items away from candles and flame.<\/li>\n<li>Use candle holders that don\u2019t tip over.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\"><strong><em>Christmas Trees<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">The National Fire Protection Association notes that 300 home fires start each year with Christmas trees. It\u2019s not just live trees; artificial trees also burn. Three major reasons Christmas-tree fires start: electric malfunctions, heat too close to the tree, and children playing with matches, candles, or fireplaces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Common-sense tips:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Buy a cut tree that has green, fresh needles.<\/li>\n<li>Buy an artificial tree that is fire resistant.<\/li>\n<li>Use a secure stand.<\/li>\n<li>Locate trees a minimum of three feet from heat sources such as fireplaces and radiators.<\/li>\n<li>Water live-cut trees every day.<\/li>\n<li>Use lights listed by an industrial laboratory. Link together, at most, only three strands of bulbs.<\/li>\n<li>Throw out lights that have frayed or broken cords.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Pull the plug on lights before going to bed or leaving home.<\/li>\n<li>When a tree starts dropping needles, it\u2019s time to dispose of it (outside, not in the house, garage or basement).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\"><strong><em>Children<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Perhaps the most unpredictable risks for winter fire are kids who are, naturally, exploring and experiencing the wonders of the winter season. Remember that lights and flames are fascinating to children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">Common-sense tips:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Watch the wires. Keep kids away from light strands and power cords.<\/li>\n<li>Matches, candles, stoves and ovens often get extra use during the holidays, at a time when adults are occupied with cooking, cleaning and entertaining. Stop and ask: \u201cWhat might draw a child\u2019s curiosity in this house?\u201d Then shield children from those items, physically and through discipline and direction.<\/li>\n<li>Put matches\/lighters out of children\u2019s reach. Use lighters that have a child-resistant safety feature.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Train children to tell an adult if they see matches or lighters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; min-height: 15px; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">As always,\u00a0our <a title=\"Noyes Hall &amp; Allen Insurance South Portland Maine\" href=\"http:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\" target=\"_blank\">Maine insurance agency<\/a>\u00a0stands ready to assist our clients with a homeowners insurance claim. The best claim is no claim, though. Use these common-sense practices to prevent home fires. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font: 12px Times New Roman; margin: 0;\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0;\">If you have questions about home insurance, <a title=\"Condominium Insurance and Maine Condominium Insurance Quotes from Noyes Hall &amp; Allen\" href=\"http:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/personal-insurance-landing\/condo-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\">Maine condo insurance<\/a> or <a title=\"Renters' Insurance and Maine Renter Insurance Quotes from Noyes Hall &amp; Allen Insurance\" href=\"http:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/personal-insurance-landing\/renters-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\">renters insurance<\/a>, <a title=\"Contact Noyes Hall &amp; Allen Insurance Agency South Portland Maine\" href=\"http:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\">contact Noyes Hall &amp; Allen<\/a> Insurance at 207-799-5541.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thanksgiving, Chanukkah, Christmas, and New Year\u2019s Eve\u2014these holidays mean celebrations, many of them in decorated homes filled with merry-making family members and friends. Unfortunately, this joyous time is also the height of house fire season.\u00a0The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that the 10 worst days for fires in homes fall between December 24 and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13,14,15,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-condo-insurance","category-homeowners-insurance","category-personal-insurance","category-renters-insurance","category-safety"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4825,"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118\/revisions\/4825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}