Holiday Fire Safety in the Workplace: How to Keep Facilities Safe During the Winter Season

The end-of-year holidays bring welcome moments of warmth, celebration, and connection. But inside workplaces of every kind — hospitals, K–12 schools, and business campuses — the season also carries very real fire risks. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), winter holidays are a peak time for fires caused by decorative lighting, candles, heating equipment, overloaded electrical systems, and unattended spaces.

The good news? Most holiday-related fires are completely preventable. With the right mix of awareness, planning, and code-compliant life-safety technology, organizations can reduce hazards and keep their facilities operating safely through the season.

Below, we explore holiday fire-safety strategies tailored to healthcare settings, K–12 schools, and commercial businesses — plus a practical checklist for securing your workplace before everyone heads out for holiday break.

The Foundations: NFPA-Aligned Holiday Fire Safety Principles

NFPA recommends several universal precautions that apply to any facility. Key reminders include:

• Choose flame-retardant decorations. Artificial trees should be labeled as fire-resistant; live greenery must be fresh, watered, and kept away from heat sources.

• Inspect light strings and electrical cords. Replace frayed, cracked, or damaged wires; avoid overloading outlets and power strips.

• Keep combustible materials away from heat. Space heaters, lighting, and electrical equipment should not be within three feet of decorations or fabrics.

• Avoid open flames. Candles are a leading cause of holiday fires — NFPA strongly recommends electric or LED alternatives.

• Turn everything off before leaving. Lights, holiday displays, space heaters, and decorative elements should never be left energized after hours.

These simple principles set the stage for more tailored safety measures within specialized environments.

Holiday Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals and clinics face unique challenges during the holidays — increased patient census, additional oxygen use, heightened staffing strain, and holiday décor that must comply with strict code requirements.

What Healthcare Leaders Should Prioritize:

1. Limit combustible decorations in patient-care areas.

NFPA and CMS regulations restrict the use of live trees, garlands, and certain hanging decorations within healthcare environments. When in doubt, opt for flame-retardant materials and consult your Life Safety Code coordinator.

2. Keep holiday décor away from oxygen-rich areas.

Even small ignition sources can escalate quickly around oxygen equipment. Avoid placing any electrical décor near patient rooms where oxygen therapy is in use.

3. Inspect outlets, power strips, and medical-grade equipment.

Holiday lighting should never share circuits with medical devices. Only use hospital-grade power strips approved for patient-care spaces.

4. Ensure clear egress routes — even during celebrations.

Hallways, nurses’ stations, emergency exits, and evacuation paths must remain unobstructed. Decorations should never hang from fire sprinkler heads or block pull stations.

5. Reconfirm alarm and suppression readiness.

With colder weather and increased indoor equipment usage, routine checks of fire alarms, smoke detectors, extinguishers, and suppression systems are essential — especially before holiday staffing rotations.

Holiday Fire Safety in K–12 Schools

Schools often embrace the season with enthusiasm — classroom crafts, winter concerts, PTO events, and decorated hallways. But these festive touches can introduce hazards if not managed carefully.

How Schools Can Stay Safe:

1. Use only flame-resistant décor in classrooms and corridors.

Paper snowflakes, student projects, and temporary displays should follow district fire-code requirements for allowable wall coverage.

2. Reinforce rules for electrical safety.

Teachers frequently bring personal décor or appliances from home. Remind staff to:

• Avoid daisy-chaining power strips

• Inspect all cords

• Keep devices unplugged when not in use

3. Keep decorations away from heat sources.

Radiators, space heaters (if permitted), stage lighting, and computer equipment should remain clear of combustible décor.

4. Review fire-drill procedures before break.

With altered schedules and special events, students and staff benefit from a refresher. Ensure substitute teachers and seasonal staff know evacuation routes.

5. Secure gyms, auditoriums, and event spaces.

Holiday concerts and assemblies mean increased foot traffic and temporary equipment. Confirm that stage curtains, lighting rigs, and extension cords are inspected and positioned safely.

Holiday Fire Safety for Businesses and Organizations

Office buildings, warehouses, retail spaces, and corporate campuses each bring different risks — particularly as employees decorate workspaces and prepare to leave for extended holidays.

Key Safety Measures for Business Environments:

1. Establish clear rules for holiday décor.

Limit combustible materials, prohibit open flames, and require UL-listed lights. Centralize where and how decorations may be installed.

2. Avoid overloading office circuits.

Modern décor, plug-in displays, and heaters can quickly strain electrical capacity. Use surge-protected power strips and distribute loads across circuits.

3. Maintain clean storage and equipment rooms.

Cardboard boxes, wrapping supplies, and old décor should never block sprinkler heads or crowd electrical panels.

4. Inspect heating equipment and mechanical rooms.

Colder months mean more strain on HVAC systems — a prime time for dust accumulation and electrical faults.

5. Educate employees on emergency procedures.

Ensure everyone knows evacuation routes, assembly points, and how to report hazards during reduced staffing periods.

Before You Leave for Holiday Break: A Workplace Fire Safety Checklist

Whether you manage a clinic, school, or corporate office, the days leading up to winter break require intentional shutdown procedures.

Final Fire-Safety Steps:

• Turn off and unplug all decorative lighting.
  Timers are helpful but physical unplugging is safest.

• Remove or unplug space heaters.
  Even UL-listed models should never be left on in an unoccupied space.

• Secure flammable materials.
  Dispose of dry or aging décor, packaging materials, or clutter that could ignite.

• Check all fire doors.
  Doors should be closed, unobstructed, and free of wedges or holds.

• Verify alarm, monitoring, and sprinkler systems are functional.
  This includes confirming that your monitoring center receives test signals.

• Conduct a walkthrough of high-risk areas such as kitchens, copy/print rooms, mechanical rooms, and storage spaces.

• Communicate emergency contact information to building occupants and designate holiday on-call personnel.

• Document any maintenance needs so they can be addressed promptly in the new year.

A little preparation goes a long way — especially when facilities will be empty for days or weeks at a time.

A Safer Season Starts With Awareness — and the Right Technology

Fire risk doesn’t take a holiday, but with thoughtful planning and the right life-safety systems in place, your organization can enjoy a season that is festive and safe.

From intelligent fire-alarm systems and emergency communication tools to managed services like ComCare, Communication Company helps organizations protect people, property, and peace of mind year-round.

If you’d like support preparing your facility for the holiday season, our team is ready to help. Contact us today to get started!