The holidays are a very special time of the year filled with cheer, friends & family, and love. Unfortunately, it can also be an especially dangerous time if proper safety precautions are not taken. Every year, fires break out due to decorations, candles, and other holiday activities. To keep your family and home safe during the holidays, it's important to follow some simple tips for preventing fires. From checking your decorations for fire hazards to never leaving the kitchen unattended while cooking, these tips will help you protect your home from and keep your holidays merry and bright!

Check your decorations for fire hazards. While some decorations are perfectly safe, others are fire hazards. Checking the labels on your decorations and keeping an eye out for common hazards will help you avoid decorations that could cause fires in your home. Some examples of fire hazards to watch for include:

• Unsecured lights. Loose or unsecured lights can fall and start fires. To avoid this, make sure your lights are wired correctly and that no one is standing near them when turned on.

• Extension cords. Extension cords are a major cause of fires. To avoid this, make sure you are plugging decorations directly into wall outlets, and avoiding extension cords where possible.

Be aware of fire risks associated with candles. Candles are an iconic part of the holidays, but they also pose fire risks. To ensure your holiday is bright AND safe, it's important to follow proper candle safety guidelines. Some tips to keep your candles safe include:

• Using only flame-resistant candles. Flame-resistant candles are less likely to cause fires.

• Avoiding candles that drip. Candles that drip are more likely to start a fire.

• Keeping candles out of the reach of children and pets. Children and pets are curious and rambunctious and could knock over candles and cause a fire.

• Extinguishing your candles before you leave your home. Even if you put them out, a gust of wind or something else could cause your candles to start a fire while you are gone.

• Washing your windows regularly. WHAT?! Yes, water from dirty windows can cause candles on your windowsills to start fires.

Never leave the kitchen unattended while cooking. While it's important to enjoy the holiday season, it's also crucial to remember to be safe. One of the biggest dangers at this festive time of year is burns from cooking. These tips will help protect your family and home from fires caused by cooking:

• Never leave the kitchen unattended while cooking. Doing so can put you at risk of being burned by a grease fire, or worse, starting a fire in your kitchen.

• Make sure you have plenty of space around any appliances you are using. This includes having enough room to open the oven door without hitting anything.

• Use the proper appliances for your cooking needs. If you are cooking with oil, make sure it's in a safe frying pan. If you notice that the oil is starting to smoke or smell, take the pan off the heat immediately.

Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are crucial to keeping your family safe, especially during the holidays when you may be cooking more frequently or burning more candles. These detector tips will help keep you safe:

• Test them regularly. It's recommended that you test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors twice a month. You can do this by pressing the test button or pulling the pin out.

• If your detectors are a model that needs to be replaced every 10 years, make sure to replace them before the holiday season kicks in.

• Make sure you have enough detectors for your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home, including the basement. Fire detectors should also be installed inside of every bedroom and outside of each sleeping area.

Make sure your outlets are not overloaded. Be aware of how many decorations are plugged in at once. Too many can overload your outlets and can cause a fire hazard. To avoid this, make sure you are only plugging decorations into outlets that are not already being used by something else. It's also a good idea to ensure that your decorations aren't all plugged into the same outlet.

Unplug your decorations when you're not around. Keeping your decorations plugged in at all times while you're out and about can be a fire hazard. Instead, unplug your decorations when you're not around to watch over them. This will help avoid potential accidents and keep your decorations and your home safe. It's also a good idea to unplug lights that are on timers or have sensors, as they may keep sparking if they remain plugged in. If you notice that you have too many decorations plugged in, you can use a power strip to help manage the flow of electricity to your decorations.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy. If you are hosting a party or have children in the house, it is important to have a fire extinguisher handy. While it's impossible to eliminate all risk of fire, having a fire extinguisher nearby can greatly increase your chances of putting it out quickly and efficiently. Keep your fire extinguisher in an easy-to-access location, such as near the front door. Be sure you know how to use it properly. Since different types of fires require different extinguishers, make sure you have the right one for the type of fire in your home.

Don't smoke near flammable items. If you've got smokers in your home, it's important to have them smoke away from flammable items. Cigarettes and cigars are a leading cause of house fires, and they can be especially dangerous during the holidays when decorations and other flammable items are nearby. Keep smoking materials away from decorations, and encourage individuals not to smoke indoors. If you are planning on hosting a holiday party, make sure you have an outdoor smoking area available for your guests.

Make sure your holiday tree is well-watered. If you are planning on decorating your home with a real Christmas tree, be sure it is well-watered. A dry tree can be a fire hazard, especially if it is near other decorations. Additionally, if your tree is too dry, it may not smell as nice. Make sure you water your tree regularly and make sure it is not sitting in a water dish that is too full.

Don't leave your fireplace unattended. Having a warm and inviting fireplace is a great holiday tradition. However, if you are the only one in the house, you may leave yourself open to potential danger. While it's not a bad idea to keep your fireplace going while you're home, it's especially important to make sure you are nearby and watching it while you are away. Keep your fireplace clear of debris and make sure it is properly maintained and stoked to avoid a fire.

The holidays are a special time of year, so it's important to make sure that you keep your home safe. From checking your decorations for fire hazards to making sure your CO detector is working, these tips will help you protect your home from holiday fires. Wishing you a festive and joyful holiday season!