Christmas is not without its share of troubles, especially in the Philippines. The now-seasonal holiday traffic jams are a source of many accidents. In fact, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has put more than 31,000 firefighters on alert due to the rise in fire incidents during this season.
We will look at the common causes of Christmas house fires, how you can improve your home fire protection, and the role property insurance plays in helping keep your family safe during this season.
Holiday Cooking
The season’s focus on authentic, homemade meals leads to increased cooking, which raises the risk of Christmas house fires. Forgetting to turn off the gas tap is a common issue, but ingredients like high-heat oils, grease buildup, unattended cooking, and open fires, such as barbecuing, can all cause a fire.
Here are some tips on avoiding fires related to cooking:
- Remove any flammable materials from the cooking area, especially during open fire cooking
- Practice doing a post-cooking check, especially of fuel sources and hazardous ingredients like oils
- Do not cook when under the influence of alcohol, as judgment and senses may be impaired
Christmas Electronics
Many families enjoy Christmas decorations. But people often forget that a house’s electrical lines have a capacity, while piling on lights and sounds that rival the old CDO display. You can easily overload your electrical lines with an overabundance of Christmas lights, and Filipinos love plugging too many appliances into too few outlets, all of which are fire hazards.
Stay within electrical safety limits by doing the following:
- Prevent heat buildup by not keeping the lights open for a long time.
- Use LED lights, especially ones with the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and Safety Mark and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC)
- Stop “octopussing,” or overloading extension outlets by plugging too many appliances into one
Holiday Decors
It’s the time of the year for Christmas trees and stockings. Some even put up lively banners and light candles. While these decorations help hype up the holidays, they can also be a source of fires. Christmas trees pose a fire risk when lights overload electrical connections, and unattended candles are as dangerous as any source of open flame when near flammables.
Keep the season celebratory with these safety tips:
- If using decorative lights, inspect them to ensure none have frayed electrical lines, especially when mounting them on trees and wood walls
- Keep trees, candles, and other decorations at least three feet away from sources of fire and heat
- Designate someone to check that all electrical and fire sources are secure and extinguished before leaving the house or at the end of a party
You can learn more about reducing the risks of property damage and keeping your family safe with our fire protection article.
Ensuring the Season’s Celebrations
Accidents can still happen despite our best intentions. Sometimes they’re not even our fault but that of someone else who was negligent, and we just happen to be in their area of effect. You can be diligent in your practice of fire safety, but you have one neighbor who is not, and now your neighborhood is in flames.
Fire Insurance is designed to protect your assets from unforeseen disasters like Christmas house fires. By securing comprehensive fire coverage, you not only safeguard your property against damage but also minimize the financial losses that come from such incidents.
What can fire insurance offer:
- Comprehensive Coverage: All-Risk Insurance (Property/Commercial/Industrial) policies offer extensive protection against a wide range of risks, especially for fire. This ensures financial security due to fire-related risks.
- Loss Recovery for Structural and Content Damage: In the event of a fire, fire insurance provides compensation for damage to your property and furniture. In case your house becomes uninhabitable due to fire, the policy can include accommodation or rental expenses.
- Firefighting Expenses: Certain policies offer coverage for firefighting costs, including any charges by fire brigades and temporary protection measures.
At Reliable Insurance Brokers, we offer Property, Commercial, and Industrial All-Risk Insurance that provides comprehensive protection, particularly for fire coverage. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you in helping keep you safe from Christmas house fires and hazards, and keep this season one of hope and celebrations.
Contact Information for Inquiries and Support
If you have any questions or need assistance with your insurance, feel free to reach out to us:
- Call: +63 2 8631 9285 to 86
- Mobile: +63 917 138 5120
- Email: info@reliable-insurance.ph
- Messenger: m.me/reliable.insurancebrokersph
Sources:
- American Red Cross (No Date), Holiday Home Fires.
- Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority (2024, December 19), Top causes of fires in December – and how to avoid them.
- GMA News Online (2025, December 12), How to avoid fires during Christmas season? BFP shares tips.
- Daily Tribune (2025, December 3), BFP puts 31,000 firefighters on full alert for holiday season.
