Keep the Sparkle, Skip the Sparks: Protecting Your Home This Holiday Season

The holidays bring festive lights, cozy gatherings, and cherished traditions, but they can also introduce fire hazards that make a few simple precautions especially important for protecting your home and loved ones.

From decorating the Christmas tree to preparing family meals, the season creates more opportunities for accidental fires. A little planning can help ensure your holidays are remembered for joyful moments, not unexpected emergencies.

Holiday Cheer Can Come with Hidden Fire Risks

Many of the activities that make the season special can also increase the risk of accidental fires.

During the holidays, homeowners often:

Decorate with lights, extension cords, and seasonal décor.
Spend more time cooking and entertaining.
Use fireplaces, candles, and space heaters more frequently.
Bring natural Christmas trees into the home.
Host family gatherings and overnight guests.

Being aware of these seasonal hazards is the first step toward helping keep your home, family, and belongings safe.

Decorate, Entertain, and Heat Safely

Many holiday fire hazards stem from increased activity around the home. Taking a few simple precautions can help you enjoy the season safely.

Christmas Trees & Holiday Decorations

Keep natural trees well-watered to prevent them from drying out.
Place trees away from fireplaces, space heaters, and heat vents.
Choose artificial trees labeled as fire-resistant.
Inspect holiday lights for damaged wires, cracked sockets, or broken bulbs.
Avoid overloading outlets and extension cords.
Turn off holiday lights and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

Candles & Holiday Ambiance

Place candles on stable, nonflammable surfaces.
Keep candles away from curtains, decorations, and high-traffic areas.
Never leave candles unattended.
Consider flameless LED candles for holiday displays.

Holiday Cooking & Entertaining

Never leave cooking food unattended.
Keep towels, paper products, and decorations away from the stovetop.
Keep children and pets away from cooking areas.
Double-check that burners and appliances are turned off after use.
Keep a fire extinguisher easily accessible in the kitchen.

Fireplaces & Space Heaters

Have fireplaces and chimneys inspected and cleaned regularly.
Keep space heaters at least three feet from furniture, curtains, and bedding.
Use a fireplace screen to help contain sparks.
Keep wrapping paper, stockings, and decorations away from heat sources.
Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep, and only use when they are absolutely needed.
Never leave a fire unattended.

A few extra precautions can help ensure the only thing glowing this season is your holiday décor.

Is Your Homeowners Insurance Ready for the Holidays?

Home values and rebuilding costs can change over time, so it’s a good idea to periodically review your homeowners insurance to make sure your coverage has kept pace. Talk with your insurance professional about whether your current dwelling coverage limit reflects the present cost to rebuild your home, which can differ from its market value.

You may also want to research replacement cost coverage and understand how your policy would respond if your home or belongings needed to be repaired or replaced after a covered loss. Depending on the policy and insurer, options such as replacement cost or extended replacement cost coverage may provide additional protection beyond a standard coverage limit.

As part of your annual insurance review, consider recent renovations, additions, upgraded finishes, and other improvements that could affect rebuilding costs. Keeping your policy information current can help ensure your coverage continues to reflect your home and what it could cost to rebuild today.

The Bottom Line

The holidays should be filled with laughter, family traditions, and memorable moments, not fire-related emergencies.

By practicing holiday fire safety and reviewing your homeowners insurance coverage, you can help protect your home, family, and belongings throughout the season. A little prevention today can help provide greater peace of mind throughout the holiday season.

Need help reviewing your homeowners insurance coverage? Contact SWBC Insurance Services to discuss your policy and make sure your protection keeps pace with your needs.

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Kevin Witcher

Kevin Witcher joined SWBC in 2022. He serves as Chief Executive Officer of SWBC Insurance Services. In this role, he is responsible for all operational, business development, and sales activities for the division. Kevin is a seasoned insurance professional with over 34 years of experience. He began his career with Chubb in 1989 after graduating from The University of Texas at Austin. He focused on professional liability for the first 15 years of his career, and he has deep expertise in Directors and Officers liability, crime insurance, fiduciary liability, cyber liability, and employment practices coverages. Kevin served as a Regional Financial Lines Manager overseeing Texas and Oklahoma before moving into a marketing role that included all property and casualty products, as well as personal lines. He then served as Vice President and Branch Manager for Chubb’s Austin Branch, which included Austin, San Antonio, and the western side of Texas. Kevin has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including holding the role of treasurer and board chair for AIDS Services of Austin, as well as the Executive Committee and Board Trustee for Zach Scott Theatre.