The winter holidays are a time for families and friends to gather and celebrate. It’s a wonderful time to decorate your home and prepare memorable meals. However, holiday decorations and cooking can increase the risk of home fires. As a result, it’s essential to follow some tips to ensure that you stay safe while cooking your holiday feast and decorating your home. It’s important to remember that cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries, regardless of the season. Many of us may be attempting to cook a holiday meal for the first time this year. But don’t worry; By following these tips, you’ll be able to prevent cooking fires and ensure that you and your loved ones are safe. From frying a turkey to making pies, these tips will help you stay confident and in control while cooking your holiday meal.

• Stand by your pan—turn the burner off if you leave your kitchen.
• Watch what you’re cooking. Turn the burner off if any smoke or grease starts to boil.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent them from being bumped or pulled over.
• Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby to put out pan fires.

Holiday decorations can block windows and doors, increasing the risk of home fires. Follow safety tips, test smoke alarms, and practice your home fire escape plan to stay safe.

• Check all holiday light cords to ensure they aren’t frayed or broken, and check for loose bulb connections.
• Don’t string too many strands of lights together—no more than three per extension cord. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when stringing lights.
• If you are buying an artificial tree, look for the fire-resistant label. Keep it away from fireplaces, radiators, and other heat sources when putting it up.
• If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and water it to keep it fresh. Bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off. A dry tree is a fire hazard. Trees too close to a heat source cause one in every four winter fires.
• If using older decorations, check their labels. Some older tinsel is lead-based. If using angel hair, wear gloves to avoid irritation. Avoid breathing in artificial snow.
• When decorating outside, ensure decorations are for outdoor use and securely fasten lights to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, ensure they are insulated to avoid an electrocution or fire hazard.
• Don’t use electric lights on metallic trees.
• Remember to turn off all holiday lights when going to bed or leaving the house.
• Keep children, pets, and decorations away from candles.
• If hanging stockings on the fireplace mantel, don’t light the fireplace.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and things that can burn. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. Consider using flameless candles; they look very similar and are safer.
• Blow out lit candles and turn off all light strings and decorations when leaving. 

Wishing you much cheer and safety this holiday season!