Halloween Fire Safety Tips

10/29/2020 (Permalink)

Whenever there's a reason to dress up at work, SERVPRO of Metro Pittsburgh East likes to really let it all out. It's not rare to see those of us here with devil horns or witch hats on as early as October 1. We don't fool around when there's any excuse for us to act a little "extra". Many of us here are currently decking our houses with massive lighting, animatronic corpses, fog machines, microphones, you name it, all in the spirit of the holiday. What does all of this need? Loads of energy and that kind of power, gone unchecked can cause massive power surges or even fires. If you're not careful, "Halloween Nightmares" could become an all too real thing, unlike the plastic animatronics and fake monsters. So, how do we prevent this?

• Ditch the Harvest Crops

A common theme that many people can have when setting up their haunted houses is making it look a bit like a farmhouse. It's not uncommon to see dried out corn stalks, hay bales, or even just piles of wood sat out in front of people's houses. Generally speaking, leaving these things out around open flames or machines liable to cause fires, is not the greatest idea. 

• Switch to Switches

Along with the previous statement. Who doesn't love a good jack-o-lantern. We sure do. Something to keep in mind is that most times, people will use open flames in jack-o-lanterns or in luminaries and this can be another huge fire hazard if you're not careful. We suggest switching these over to LED lights. They're reusable, safer, and come in a whole wide range of colors.

• Keep An Eye on Your Costume

Another common problem is wardrobe malfunctions. Long draping sashes, Flowing Dresses, Acrylic hair pieces, bits of string, all of these things can get caught over an open flame, or stuck in some sort of machinery and cause some serious issues.

• Always Check Your Equipment

We all might have that one person, maybe it's you, who decides to pull out some sort of heavy power tools or farm equipment and drop them in the front lawn. Always make sure to check your equipment before starting it up. Gas caps, saw blades, fuel lines, extension cords, make sure to practice proper safety if you decide to mess with heavy machinery on Halloween night.

• Test Your Outlets

Especially those that are set outside exposed to the elements. We here at SERVPRO know a lot about "daisy-chaining" heavy loads of power and how to do it safely, it's part of the job, but it can get messy fast. Always make sure how much power you're putting in, and how much the outlet can take before you plug anything in, especially if your house looks like a death metal album cover.

Accident prevention is the key to making smart, calculated decisions that could cost you in the long run. We always strive to provide customers with solutions to everyday problems in hopes that they will never need our services again. We know how hard house fires can be for families and we will always be here to get people back on their feet in their time of need. If all else fails, remember, you can always call on your local SERVPRO for assistance.