Mike Causey | We’re about to celebrate a new year; let’s do so safely

The calendar is about to turn to a new year. We’ll set goals and resolutions for 2025. We’ll also celebrate as we watch the old year exit and welcome the new year.

As 2025 nears, I hope we’ll make the new year a safe one. Using extra caution can help us decrease the risk of home fires. It’s important to be extra vigilant of our surroundings as we get deep into winter, which is the most dangerous time of the year for fires.

Winter weather, combined with extra risks from space heaters, holiday cooking and celebratory fireworks can increase the potential for home fires. But if we take common sense precautions, the new year can be enjoyable and cozy.

Often, home heating fire deaths are the result of heating equipment placed too close to things that can catch on fire, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses or bedding. Home fires also peak on major holidays that traditionally involve cooking.

Working smoke alarms are essential to keeping your family safe from fire. In the event your home catches fire, get out immediately and never return into a burning home to retrieve a pet or a belonging. We’ve had way too many incidents where someone re-entering a home led to fire deaths. It’s also important that everyone in your family knows at least two ways to escape your home and to have a safe meeting place outside.

Fireworks are also used widely during celebrations on New Year’s Eve. For those choosing to celebrate with fireworks, remember to always use them on a hard surface away from bushes and homes. Never use them while consuming alcohol and to never let children use fireworks such as sparklers unattended.

The National Fire Protection Association has some good safety tips to prevent fire, injury or poisonings:

Heating

— Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.

— Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

— Never use your oven to heat your home.

— Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

— Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.

— Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container, placed on a non-combustible area and stored a safe distance away from your home.

— Test smoke alarms at least once a month

Cooking

— Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food. If you need to leave the kitchen, turn off the stove.

— Keep flammable items such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels and curtains away from the cooking area.

— Establish a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and other areas where hot food or drink is being prepared or carried.

— Be alert when cooking. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t cook.

— If your stove catches on fire, when in doubt, just get out! Call 911 from outside the home.