Winter is the peak season for home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, the U.S. Fire Administration and the American Red Cross.

Cooking and home heating are the leading causes of fire during the winter months. Candles, decorations and Christmas trees are among other cause of fires during the last two months of the year.

The joy of the holidays can quickly turn to tragedy if simple safety precautions aren’t taken with decorations.

Overall, the American Red Cross reports that 47,000 fires will occur during the winter holidays. They will claim more than 500 lives, cause more than 2,200 injuries and lead to more than $554 million in property damage.

Christmas trees and decorations contribute much to the holiday spirit but also can be a danger.

U.S. fire departments respond to an average of between 160 and 200 home fires that start with Christmas trees each year. The good news is that that number has continued to drop since the early 1980s, when there were 850 reported home fires that started with trees. Between 2016 and 2020, those fires caused an average of two deaths, 11 injuries and $12 million in direct property damage annually. On average, one out of every 52 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 135 total reported home fires. As expected, 74 percent of Christmas tree fires happen in December and January. If you are purchasing a live Christmas tree, make sure to purchase a fresh one.

The U.S. Fire Administration reported needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If too many needles drop, the tree has been cut too long and has probably dried out. That tree can be a fire hazard.

Do not place a tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Fire officials recommend not putting up a live tree too early. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

According to the NFPA, between 2008 and 2022, fire departments across the country respond to about 835 fires per year that started with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. Those fires on average have resulted in three deaths, 30 injuries and $14 million in direct property damage.

The fire administration also recommends inspecting holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory and don’t overload electrical outlets. The NFPA reports that 44 percent of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems.

Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 41 percent of home Christmas tree fires, and 20 percent of Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs — with 11 percent started by candles. About 40 percent of Christmas tree fires start in the living room,

Only use approved outdoor lights on the exterior of the home, and follow the recommendation of manufacturers when it comes to connecting multiple strings of lights together. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires — they should not be warm to the touch, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Unattended children tend to get into trouble and the danger is increased at the holidays. Children are drawn to candles and decorative lighting. Candle fires peak this time of year, and the worst days for them are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Christmas Eve. They lead to 2 percent of reported home fires, 3 percent of home fire deaths, 4 percent of direct property damage and 6 percent of home fire injuries. On average, the NFPA reports, 20 home candle fires are reported each day.

Cooking fires also greatly increase around the holidays. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve come right behind Thanksgiving and the day before Thanksgiving when it comes to holiday fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Make sure smoke detectors are properly working and have the family practice escape routes from different rooms of the house.

And, above all, hang stockings, lights and holiday decorations with care this year. Your caution can help to prevent a fire that could lead to property damage and, sadly, could prove to be deadly.