Think fire safety this holiday season

For most of us, the holidays represent a treasured time of year, and we work hard to make it special for the people we care about most. We decorate our homes with great thought and detail, and entertain friends and family by hosting parties and cooking elaborate meals and treats. But as we do these things, fire safety is rarely a thought.

It may seem that the holidays and home fires are two completely different topics, but they’re not; national statistics show that the holiday season turns sorrowful, and sometimes even fatal for so many households each year as the result of home fires. Cooking, Christmas trees, candles and holiday lights – all key parts of the holiday season – are significant causes of fires that occur this time of year.

While it’s quite a somber perspective on the holiday season, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. With just one or two minor changes, often taking a few minutes, or even seconds, of time, the holidays can stay festive and safe for everybody. It’s important for people to take basic but vital fire safety precautions as they plan and prepare for the upcoming holiday season. These simple steps can greatly reduce the risk of fire and its potentially devastating impact on homes and families:

Cooking: Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that unattended cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries. Stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling or broiling food. Most cooking fires involve the stovetop, so keep anything that can catch fire away from it, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even if it’s for a short period of time. If you’re simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.