Entertaining and celebrating with family and friends is what the holiday season is all about. This year, take some time to learn about potential fire hazards related to cooking, candles, decorations, electrical cords, and heating devices.

Keep your holiday parties safe and your home glowing for the holidays with these U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) tips:

• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.
• If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where you cannot knock them down.
• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns. Never leave a burning candle alone in an empty room.
• Test your smoke alarms and tell your guests about your home fire escape plan.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking at high temperatures like frying, grilling or broiling.
• Ask people who smoke to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them, so young children do not touch them.
• Keep doorways and exit paths clear of furniture and decorations.

Find more holiday and fire safety information on the USFA Holiday Safety page: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/holiday.html