American Red Cross works to reduce home fires during the holidays

The American Red Cross is partnering with fire departments to provide families with safety information to prevent disastrous and often fatal fires during this holiday season.

The holiday season means a surge in home fires and in the first nine days of this year, the American Red Cross responded to nearly 60 percent more home fires than in 2017.

The U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association state that nearly 47,000 fires occur during the winter holidays.

The Red Cross claims these fires claim more than 500 lives, cause more than 2,200 injuries and cost over $500 million in property damage. The most common causes of home fires are from Christmas trees, candles, and supplemental heating sources.

Here are some tips you can follow to be safe:

Place trees and other holiday decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents, and candles. When choosing a tree, purchase one that is flame retardant metallic or artificial. If you choose a real tree, ensure that it’s fresh and that green needles aren’t easily broken. Remember, keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water. Before stringing your Holiday lights, be sure there are no frayed electrical cords, the lights are in good working condition, and they are used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Unplug your tree and holiday lights when you leave the house and when you go to bed. Never leave burning candles unattended and extinguish them when going to bed. Designate one person to walk around your home to make sure that all candles and smoking materials are properly extinguished after guests leave. Many people spend a lot of time during the Holidays cooking and baking. However, the kitchen is also one of the most common places for a home fire to start. When using potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper, kitchen towels, and other flammable items, be sure to keep them well clear of the stovetop. Never leave the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or using an open flame.