Valentine’s day is this coming weekend! Whether you have a romantic flame or not, keep the real flames out of your home. A fire-safe Valentine’s Day is the best way to ensure no disasters to spoil the day. Creating that romantic atmosphere involves a surprising amount of fire. We are here to remind you to be safe! If you are planning a romantic night in, keep a few precautions in mind! Here are a few fire-safe Valentine’s Day tips.

Candles

A romantic dinner can often involve candles. A fire-safe Valentine’s Day means never leaving a candle unattended. If the candle is lit, you should be in the room with it. That way, you can act quickly if something goes wrong. Remember to blow them out when you leave. They should also be kept at least a foot away from anything flammable, including flowers. Be wary of candles around children and pets as well. They should be out of reach, and nowhere they can be knocked over by rambunctious kids or animals.

Cooking

Are you making a romantic meal at home? Remember that most home fires start in the kitchen! Do not wear any loose-fitting clothes that can catch on fire. Be mindful of where you place towels and trash so that it is not near any flames. Focus on what you are cooking while food is on the stove or in the oven. Do not get distracted, and too much wine before dinner is not a good idea either. Keep a lid nearby in case of grease fires. A fire-safe Valentine’s Day may require a little forward thinking! Make sure you are working with a clean kitchen before you start. Grease is flammable! Clean your stove and oven often. You should never pour water on a grease fire. Instead, put a lid over the pan to deprive the fire of oxygen.

Fireplace

The fireplace makes for a cozy atmosphere but be sure you are taking the necessary precautions if you have a wood-burning fireplace. You should have a grate to keep logs and embers where they should be (inside the fireplace). Obviously, keep anything flammable away from the fireplace. Before leaving the room, the embers should be completely cool. For a fire-safe Valentine’s Day keep the fire in the fireplace.

Nothing says, “I love you,” like keeping your loved ones safe. If you have a fire protection system in your home or apartment, make sure it is maintained well and inspected once a year. At Valley Fire Protection & Plumbing, we can help you with repairs to your sprinkler system as well as your 5-year internal pipe inspections. We also do annual inspections for your systems backflow preventers! Have a happy fire-safe Valentine’s Day!

Related Topics: Fire Protection

By: Tom Hartel

I acquired my expertise by directing day-to-day operations of the business for over 20 years. Continuous hard work helped me become a nationally recognized speaker and expert on fire protection, fire sprinklers, special hazards, and plumbing systems. In this blog, I share my knowledge that will hopefully help you make better decisions for your projects.