Traffic was halted this morning in Des Moines when firefighters doused a blazing fire at a home.

The fire department stated it’s the 16^th fire they have responded to since Sunday, including a fatal one just yesterday. The cause of the fires varied from children playing with matches to kitchen fires. Cold weather has also contributed to the reported fires this week.

We at the Beattie Law Firm want to stress how you can prevent house fires – especially during the holiday season when Christmas tress are lit, fireplaces are burning, and overtime hours are spent in the kitchen baking and preparing home-cooked meals.

We want you to remember these tips:

• Don’t leave your kitchen unattended when you’re baking. This is the number one cause of house fires.
• Examine your holiday lights and replace them if you find anything broken or cracked
• Do not link more than 3 light strands as it could cause overheating. The electrical wire should not be warm to touch.
• Make sure your decorations are non-flammable.
• Unwrapping presents next to the fireplace? Don’t place the paper in the fireplace. The chemicals in the inks and dye can produce a dangerous spark.

We at the Beattie Law firm are experienced in dealing with cases involving house fires. Should you, or a loved one, become a victim; it only takes one call for a free consultation. Call us at515-263-1000.