How to Stay Fire Safe During the Holidays
The holiday season is full of warmth, laughter, and traditions, which means gatherings around the table, festive decorations, cozy candlelight, and time with the people you love. But the activities that make this time of year special also come with heightened fire risks. Winter holidays consistently show an increase in residential fires, injuries, and losses related to cooking, decorations, heating, and open flames. Understanding these risks and taking simple precautions can make a huge difference in keeping your home and loved ones safe during this joyful season.
At Inflatable Fire Education House, we also believe that learning fire safety shouldn’t be dull or forgettable. That is why fire departments and community groups across the country are using our interactive fire education houses to give families hands-on experience identifying hazards and knowing what to do if a fire breaks out. But first, lets talk about the things you can do at home before you even think about gathering around that glowing fireplace or lighting holiday candles.
Holiday Fire Risks: What You Should Know
Winter holidays bring decorations, lights, candles, cooking, and extra electrical loads, all of which can quickly become fire hazards if we are not mindful.

- Holiday Lights & Decorations: Nearly one-third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical issues related to lights or lighting equipment. Keeping lights checked for frayed wires and avoiding overloading outlets are simple ways to reduce risk.
- Candles: December is the peak month for home candle fires. More than half of all candle fires during the holidays start when candles are placed too close to something that can burn, like decorations or curtains.
- Christmas Tree: Dry trees are incredibly flammable. In fact, Christmas tree fires are more likely to cause fatalities than other home fires, often because they spread so quickly. Keeping your tree well watered and away from heat sources is critical.
- Cooking: Cooking fires remain one of the leading causes of home fires year-round and the holidays see spikes in unattended cooking fires.
According to national data, winter holiday fires see more property damage and higher fatality rates than typical home fires. This is partly because homes are filled with decorations, wrapped gifts, fabrics, and flammable liquids that can serve as fuel for fires. Another reason is that people tend to get distracted with entertaining, cooking, or hosting overnight guests during the holiday season.
Practical Tips to Stay Fire Safe During the Holiday Season
Here are practical steps you can take this season to reduce your risk and protect your family.
1. Inspect and Maintain Your Decorations
Before stringing up lights or placing decorations, check for damaged or frayed cords. Only use indoor or outdoor lights were appropriate, and never leave them on while you are asleep or away from home.

2. Stay in the Kitchen when Cooking
Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires. Stay nearby when you are using the stove or oven and keep towels and paper products away from the heat.
3. Use Candles with Care or Choose Flameless
Candles add ambiance, but real flames are a risk. Keep them at least 12 inches from anything that can burn and never leave them unattended. Battery-operated flameless candles are a great, safe alternative.

4. Test Smoke Alarms and Have a Plan
Smoke alarms reduce your chance of dying in a fire by nearly half. Test them regularly and make sure your family knows escape routes from every room.
5. Keep Christmas Trees and Decor Away from Heat
Real trees should be kept watered and placed at least three feet from fireplaces, heaters, and candles. Drying trees ignite extremely fast and can fuel rapid fire growth.

These steps help reduce risk, but learning how to respond if a fire does happen is just as important.
Interactive Fire Safety Education with Inflatable Fire Houses
That’s where an Inflatable Fire Education House becomes a powerful tool. Instead of just reading about safety, this large, walk-through inflatable lets participants actively engage with fire safety lessons in a simulated home environment. Fire departments, schools, and community groups use these inflatables to:
- Practice identifying fire hazards in different rooms
- Learn how to create and test escape plans
- Experience crawling under simulated smoke
- Understand safe behavior around stoves, candles, and electrical hazards

Our inflatables are portable, easy to set up, and can be paired with standard smoke machines for added realism. All models are FEMA approved and ADA compliant, making them ideal for public events, school visits, fire station open houses, and community fairs. They are not only educational but also memorable and fun, helping lessons stick long after the event ends.
Stay Safe and Prepared this Holiday Season
The holidays should be about joy, connection, and making memories not worrying whether a stray spark will turn into something worse. By taking simple precautions, testing your safety gear, and engaging your community with real, hands-on fire education, you can enjoy the season with confidence.
If you are ready to bring an Inflatable Fire Education House to your community and help teach fire safety in an engaging way, email us at fireeducation@boulderblimp.com .
Stay safe, stay warm, and have a wonderful holiday season.








































