20 Ways to Prevent Holiday Season Fires

During the holiday season, candles, fireplaces and Christmas trees are part of the culture of beauty and warmth — but they can also cause destruction if they aren't handled properly.

Christmas is the worst time for residential fires, Holiday Park Fire Chief Larry Glass said.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the amount of open-flame fires more than doubles on Christmas Day.

It only takes 30 seconds of burning before a dry Christmas tree results in a fully-engulfed fire, according to the Building and Fire Research Laboratory.

"They make turpentine out of pine trees," Glass said, referring to their natural flammability.

To keep your household safe this holiday season, Chief Glass and the USFA provided the following tips:

1. Cooking is the top cause of fires. Don't leave cooking food unattended.

2. Carry a pot holder with you when you leave kitchen as a reminder that you have something cooking.

3. Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher rated for all types of fires near your cooking area, and make sure you know how to use it.

4. Check your smoke detector to make sure it's functioning properly and the batteries are fresh. It's one of the most important things you can do to keep your family safe.

5. Don't leave candles unattended. Candle fires are four times more likely in December, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

6. If you decide to buy a live tree, make sure it's fresh. Signs of a fresh tree include needles that don't easily pull off and sticky resin at the base of the tree.

7. Make sure there are no heaters, fireplaces or lights near the tree when placing it in your home.

8. Don't forget to water — a dry tree is dangerous!

9. Make sure your tree doesn't block the way out in case of a fire.

10. If you choose to buy an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled as "fire resistant".

11. Check all of your decorative lights for signs of wear or broken bulbs.

12. Never run together more than three strings of lights. If your lights trip repeatedly, it's a good sign they need to be replaced.

13. Never staple wires

14. Always use UL-rated extension cords.

15. Don't leave lights up for a long time after the holdays.

16. Have your chimney inspected to find out if it needs to be cleaned.

17. Use only seasoned wood in your fireplace.

18. Always let embers cool in a metal container outside for 24 hours before you dispose of them.

19. Make sure you use a screen to keep stray embers from flying out of the fireplace.

20. Make sure children do not have access to lighters and matches, and educate them on notifying an adult if they find them.

"We have been very lucky the past few years," Glass says.

Holday Park Fire Department's call volume usually increases by five to ten percent between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day — mostly due to cooking accidents from unattended food and grease fires, he says.

Glass stresses the importance of ongoing fire prevention education.

"Practicing fire safety is a year-long job — not just around the holidays."

You can find more information about fire safety at the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner.