Each year, fire departments respond to an average of 210 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Combined with faulty holiday lights or open flames from candles, dry Christmas trees can quickly ignite and burn down a home.

The Coral Gables Fire Department recommends keeping Christmas trees away from heat sources and exits. Watering your tree daily will help prevent it from becoming dry and hazardous.

“People are busy during the holiday season, and often forget to check for fire hazards,” says Coral Gables Fire Chief Marcos De La Rosa. “Simple things like checking holiday lights for excessive wear and turning off Christmas tree lights before going to bed can make a huge difference.”

Our Fire Department also recommend using non-flammable decorations and LED lights, and caution against leaving burning candles unattended or linking more than three strands of holiday lights.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires on Thanksgiving Day. A cooking fire is three times more likely on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year.

“Most fires on Thanksgiving occur between noon and 4:00 p.m. – the peak cooking hours,” says Fire Chief Marcos De la Rosa. “A lot of those fires can be easily avoided by staying alert and in the kitchen while cooking.”

Many home cooking fires are caused by unattended equipment, abandoned material, a heat source left too close to flammable materials, product misuse and cooking equipment that is not properly turned off.

The Coral Gables Fire Department recommends seeking out grocery stores, specialty food retailers and restaurants for preparation or using an oil-less fryer that cooks with infrared heat.

If you have a cooking fire, go outside and call 9-1-1 for the help of your local fire fighters. Do not try to fight the fire yourself.

To prevent scalds and burns, cook on back burners and make sure all pot handles are turned inward so children don’t come into contact with them. Appliances that get hot, such as toaster ovens, should also be well out of a child’s reach. Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.