Last Christmas Eve, a couple in Methusen, New Jersey, with their four children, were celebrating with friends because they learned from their neighbors that their house was engulfed by fire. In addition to losing the house, the two dogs in the family were also burned to death. According to the police, the fire was caused by their holiday light display. 

On December 26, 2018, Christmas lights destroyed a house in Old Tappan, New Jersey, leaving a mother, a father, and twin toddlers homeless. According to news reports, the family was awakened by a "crack" and they realized that the flame was entering the house from the porch. 

In 2015, in Secaucus, New Jersey, this time it was Christmas. An 87-year-old grandmother, her son, and grandson were displaced by a fire. A cat was also killed in the fire. This woman had been celebrating the holidays, was about to take a nap, suddenly smelled a smell of smoke, decided to check the stove and found that the flame was smoking. The family has lived in this house for more than sixty years. 

Whether it is a large family home or a small townhouse, New Jersey residents must be alert to fire hazards during the holidays. Due to the need for more heat and special holiday activities, such as display lights, holiday cooking, and sitting with relatives by a raging fire, the risk of house fires increases. Just a spark can ignite a fire that can destroy a family in a few minutes, or even worse, a fire that can kill a person or a beloved pet. 

Last year, there were more than 2,000 home fire deaths across the country, of which more than 40 occurred in New Jersey. During the holiday season, due to the need for more heat and activities, such as display of holiday lights, holiday cooking, and more use of candles and fireplaces, the risk of fire increases exponentially.

According to data collected by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), between 2014 and 2018, heating equipment caused an average of 48,000 fires each year. One of the main problems was space heaters. More than half of home heating fire deaths are caused by equipment that is too close to flammable materials. You must keep heating equipment away from all flammable materials such as curtains, upholstered furniture, clothing or bedding. And, no matter how good it is to return to a warm home, it is always important to turn off the heating equipment if you are not in the area.

The NFPA also reports that a large number of home fires are caused by owners failing to clean equipment properly, and two-fifths of home heating equipment fires involve wood-burning or pellet stoves or wood-burning fireplaces. If it is not maintained and cleaned regularly, the accumulated combustible substances (such as creosote) may be ignited and cause the flame to easily get out of control. If the landlord or property manager’s negligence or lack of maintenance leads to a fire accident, New Jersey fire accident attorneys can help determine the best legal option to hold them accountable.

Although some fire accidents occur due to the negligence of others, when heating your house, you can follow some safety tips to protect your family and property.

No matter how busy the days in December and the beginning of January, the decoration must be cautious. During the holidays, house fires are a very common problem, and this fact cannot be overstated. 

Choose flame-retardant or flame-retardant decorations, and specify the layout of the display and its location near the heat source. According to NFPA, at least two out of two-fifths of decorative fires are caused by items placed too close to the heat source. At the same time, more than one-third of home decoration fires are caused by candles. It is important to keep lit candles away from decorations and any objects that may burn. 

For many families, the center of the best holiday memory is a tree decorated with beloved decorations. However, although Christmas tree fires are not common, they can be serious if they do occur. 

Whether it is a real tree or an artificial tree, almost one-third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems. Use only proper lighting and read all instructions carefully, paying close attention to electrical requirements. Don't connect too many light strings together to overload the power outlet, and don't use real candles to light a tree.

As the holiday progresses, the real tree dries up, and a dry tree lit by flames can engulf a room in a few seconds. If you choose to use a live tree, make sure it has fresh green needles that will not fall off when touched. Soon after purchase, cut two inches from the bottom of the trunk to allow moisture to penetrate (and make sure the tree is flat on the support). Once the tree is on the stand, keep the water tank full to prevent drying out.

Although artificial trees pose less risk due to their vinyl or plastic needles, they are not 100% safe. Usually, these types of trees have already installed light strings when they are "pre-lighted". If the light strings ignite, it may become a safety issue. Make sure there is a string of lights on these "pre-lit" trees, and there is no bad wiring. Check the lamp itself and replace any burned out lamps. When attaching new lights to the rope, make sure they are fixed.

Keep trees away from any heat sources (fireplaces, radiators, candles, vents, or lights) at least three feet, and do not let trees block the exit in an emergency.

Even with preventive measures and well-thought-out plans, accidental house fires are still common. You should try to prepare the following fire safety equipment in order to be better prepared in the event of an accidental fire.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, you should install a carbon monoxide alarm like a smoke alarm. They should be usable throughout the house and in other locations as required by applicable laws, regulations or standards. And, for best protection, interconnect all CO alarms so that when one alarm goes off, they will all sound. 

Many times, carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after extreme weather events. If you happen to lose power, do not use the oven to heat your home. If you use a generator, you need to place it in a well-ventilated outdoor location, away from windows, doors, and vents.

Unfortunately, even if you follow all these fire safety tips, fire accidents can still happen. The recovery process can be stressful and costly. If you or someone you know is a victim of a fire accident, and a defective product or the negligence of others has caused the impact, contacting a lawyer can help with the aftermath. A knowledgeable New Jersey fire accident lawyer can discuss possible legal options and prepare you for what may be a lengthy legal process. Victims of the New Jersey fire accident can call toll-free (866) 327-2952 or contact D'Arcy Johnson Day online for free legal advice.

From sexual abuse issues to personal injury and workers’ compensation, Jessica brings a wealth of experience to her practice on Darcy Johnson Day. Her fluency in English and Spanish allows her to help many members of the community as she focuses on the practice areas of accident and personal injury cases, work injury, medical malpractice, immigration, criminal law, and municipal court litigation.

Your email address will not be published. The necessary places have been marked*.

Please do not include personal details in your comments. To instead send a message to the author privately, click here.

Contacting the author publicly or privately through this website will not create attorney-client privileges.

By clicking "Send", you agree that submitting this information will not establish a lawyer-client relationship. Before signing a written agreement, a lawyer-client relationship will not be established.

This website is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply.