5 Winter Fire Hazards Hiding in Your Home—and How to Prevent Them

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, filled with warm sugar cookies, twinkling lights, toasty fires, and time with loved ones. But it’s also when hidden fire hazards run amok in your home, and you might not even know it.

To help you identify and prevent these common hazards before they become 911 calls, we consulted two fire safety experts who shared the things you need to look out for, plus their top tips for preventing winter-time fires. 

Unattended Space Heaters

According to Chief Fire Officer Todd Hutchinson, space heaters account for 43 percent of all heating fires in homes and 85 percent of related deaths. If you use a space heater during winter, you must provide 3 feet of clearance in any direction and make sure it's on a flat, stable, non-flammable surface, he says.

Fire safety expert Jonathan Espinoza also cautions against plugging a space heater into an extension cord or power strip, adding that it should only be plugged directly into a wall outlet. "If you leave home, turn it off; if you're going to sleep, turn it off," he says. "It's best to eliminate any chance of something going wrong when you're not there."

Dried Out Christmas Trees

Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, smell great, and are fun to choose at the start of the holiday season. But when they dry out, they can become a huge fire safety issue. "We've seen time and again fires breaking out from Christmas trees that have dried out," Espinoza says. Real Christmas trees can ignite within seconds and burn an entire room in under a minute, Hutchinson warns.

To keep your Christmas tree from becoming a fire hazard, Espinoza and Hutchinson say it's important to keep it away from any heat or fire sources, such as a space heater or fireplace, and to regularly water your tree.

Espinoza also recommends properly disposing of your tree when the time comes in January. "Don't throw it on the side of the road," he cautions. "Too many variables come into play; it's better to dispose of them properly." Unless your area offers curbside pickup for trees, he says the best place to dispose of your tree is at a nearby drop-off location.

Overloaded Extension Cords

Do you rely on extension cords to support your annual Christmas lights? Experts share that it might not be the best idea. Hutchinson says that overloaded extension cords have an increased risk of overheating and can even cause electrical fires. He explains that it’s important to always turn off lights when you’re going to sleep or leaving your home. 

According to Espinoza, your best bet is to limit daisy-chained holiday light strands to three, stick with LED lights, and use UL-listed cords and power strips.

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Ignored Cooking Grease

Everyone loves winter comfort food, but be careful of grease fires when cooking during this time of year. "Grease fires are a hazard seen often during the holidays," Hutchinson says. "Frying foods like turkey increases the risk of overheating and igniting. Grease fires spread quickly and cannot be extinguished with water."

With gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas (coupled with alcohol) on the horizon, it's easy to be distracted and not keep a close watch on food. Hutchinson says this is exactly the type of environment that can cause a winter kitchen fire. To stay prepared, keep a lid nearby to smother flames, never leave anything frying unattended, and keep flammable materials far from stovetops and heat sources.

Creosote Buildup

When's the last time your chimney was cleaned? If you can’t remember (or the answer is never), it's time for seasonal maintenance. "Creosote buildup in chimneys can ignite unexpectedly," Hutchinson cautions. Creosote is a byproduct of burned wood or fossil fuels like coal, and it's extremely flammable.

To prevent this fire hazard, schedule a professional chimney sweeping before starting fires this winter. It's also important to have your fireplace inspected regularly, regardless of fuel source. Even tiny embers escaping from a fireplace can light rugs or nearby furniture on fire.