Fire Safety Tips for the Holidays - December 2010

With cooking, candles and lighted decorations, there are more residential fires during the holiday season than at any other time of the year. Protect your property, and the lives of your loved ones, by taking these steps to reduce the fire risk in your home.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking is the top cause of holiday fires. Be sure to keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and learn how to use it. And, because kitchen fires most commonly occur when cooking food is left unattended, if you leave the kitchen, carry something with you that will serve as a reminder that you have food on the stove.

Minimize the danger of a burning candle by never leaving flames unattended. You should also make sure there is approximately one foot of space between the candle and anything that can burn. Perhaps the best prevention is making an investment in flameless LED candles.

Live Christmas trees are highly flammable. You can reduce the risk of a fire by watering the tree every day and keeping it at least three feet away from heat sources. It's also important to note that even when watered every day, a tree will dry out after four weeks and should be removed.