Massachusetts

Fire Safety Tips: Winter Holidays and Thanksgiving

They may be a time to gather around with your loved ones, but more home fires happen on Thanksgiving and Christmas than on any of the other 363 days of the year.

Although most of the fires are related to cooking and heating, many of the fires are also started by candles, which are used in traditional and festive settings.

The best way to prevent fires is to start by making sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, according to Massachusetts' Fire Marshal.

Other fire prevention tips include:

  • Stay by the stovetop when cooking food on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and use a timer when baking or roasting in the oven
  • Water Christmas trees daily
  • Turn off holiday lights, and consider switching to LED lights, which are cooler and use less electricity
  • Blow out candles before leaving the room or going to sleep, and make sure there's a foot between the candle and anything that can burn
  • Use extension cords wisely
  • Keep space heaters about 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including curtains, furniture and holiday decorations
  • Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach from children

Click here for more winter holiday safety tips and click here for more Thanksgiving safety tips.

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