The holidays come with family, friends, warm feelings and gratitude, but these can quickly be pushed aside in the wake of a fire. To help you have the safest holiday possible, local fire departments have provided fire prevention tips for your holiday season. 

Cooking, Christmas trees, candles and holiday decorations all pose as potential fire risks, and usually these combined with a hectic holiday schedule and minimal attention is the cause of fire-related incidents.  However, with a little extra awareness and adjustments, your holiday season can be festive and safe. 

Candles 

The month of December contains more home candle fires that any other time of the year.  Keep your family from candle-related fires by using the following tips:

• Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that may burn.
• Never leave a room with a candle burning.
• Don’t leave a child or pet alone in a room with a lit candle. 

Christmas Trees

Christmas trees are beautiful and a staple of the season, but cause approximately 250 structure fires a year.  Most fires result from electrical problems or locating the tree too close to a heat source.  Protect yourself by following these guidelines:

• If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant. 
• Before placing it in the stand, cut 1-2” from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand daily.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, lights, candles and heat vents. 
• Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
• Dispose of Christmas trees after Christmas, as dried-out trees are an increased fire hazard to your home.

Cooking 

You’ll more than likely cook a Christmas feast this year, so see the following tips to prevent cooking-related kitchen fires: 

• Don’t leave cooking unattended.  Stay in the kitchen while you fry, grill or broil food.
• Keep things that may catch fire away from the stove.
• Turn off your stove if you leave the kitchen, even for short periods of time.
• Check your food regularly and always use a timer.
• Keep children at least three feet away from the stove and areas where hot foods and drinks are being prepared. 
• Following these tips can greatly reduce the risk of a fire and make your holiday season one to remember.