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Tips to Keep Warm And Safe This Winter

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(NewsUSA) - Few things seem as cozy as a mug of cocoa, a good book and a winter fire. But roasting chestnuts can sometimes lead to charred living rooms.

Colder temperatures and holiday celebrations mean heating, candles and cooking. Between December 25 and 26 alone, U.S. fire departments will respond to 12,600 house fires. Winter fires prove especially damaging. Some holiday decorations are highly flammable, and icy roads and winter storms can slow fire department response times. In very cold temperatures, frozen pipes can prevent firefighters from using water.

One new technology fights fires without using water. ARA Safety (http://www.arasafety.com), a technology company that focuses on life-saving devices, developed the FIT-5, a handheld, non-toxic fire knockdown tool. Firefighters pull a string, then toss the FIT-5 into a burning room. The deployed Fit-5 interrupts the fire and rapidly lowers indoor temperatures, making rescue operations safer.

Still, it is better to prevent fires than to fight them. Here are some fire-prevention tips for a safer, warmer winter:

- If your pipes are frozen, do not thaw them with an open flame. Using a blowtorch to thaw a pipe might seem like a bright idea -; at least until the pipe conducts heat into the wall and starts a fire. Use hot water or a hand-held dryer to thaw frozen pipes.

- Avoid candles. Electric candles create the same ambiance but are much safer than open flames. If you insist on real candles, keep the wicks trimmed to a quarter of an inch, and place the candles out of the reach of pets and children. Never use fire near evergreen needles. Extinguish candles when you leave the room.

- If you decorate with holiday lights, make sure that they are in safe, working order. Inspect the lights for frayed wire and cracked sockets. Do not link more than three strands together, or you will risk overloading your electrical outlets. Turn off the lights when you leave your home.

- Get your heating system inspected. Whether you use a kerosene heater, a wood-burning stove or a furnace, a home inspector can make sure that it's in optimal working condition.