NORFOLK, Va. — The holidays are in full swing, and that means many of us will be looking to stay warm inside for the next few months.
Tom Lyons is the communications director of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He says there are several hazards associated with celebrations and get-togethers, especially in December. He says the kitchen is an important area to keep an eye on.
"People may leave cooking unattended and that's when fires happen. So you have to pay attention to what you're cooking and how you're cooking it." Lyons said. "People don't know that December is the leading month for home fires in the United States, and it's easy to see why.”
Thanksgiving is the biggest fire risk holiday, but many of us are decorating our homes with lights and trees for Christmas, which can also pose a fire risk.
"When you're buying your Christmas tree this season, you know that it is a fresh cut, that it's not losing its needles when you pick it out. You want to make sure that it's watered every single day."
Along with Christmas, a number of celebrations including Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa all use candles in their celebrations. He says leaving one lit is a recipe for disaster.
Lyons' final reminder is to remember to plug space heaters into walls, not extension cords, and to keep them away from anything flammable.