Residents are being reminded to "look while they cook"
The St. Catharines Fire Department is reminding you to be cautious this holiday season.
Chief Fire Prevention Officer Len Papp says the department typically sees a rise in house fires during the holidays, often with devastating results.
"November, December and January, those are our most most busiest times of the year when it comes to fires. And it's also the most deadliest time of the year for fires, where we see large amounts of people passing away for the most part from a fire that is preventable."
Papp says the two leading cause of holiday fires are smoking and cooking.
He adds you should always stay in the kitchen when something is cooking on the stove, and have ashtrays available for smokers.
Papp also notes your tree can be a fire hazard, especially if you buy a real tree.
However, there are ways you can minimize the risk.
He says the base of your tree needs to be immersed in water at all times to prevent them from drying out.
Papp also offers some tips in regards to decorations.
"Check and make sure that there's no frayed wires, make sure that the cords are in good condition, and also make sure that you're not overloading the circuit with too many lights on the tree."
You're also advised to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and have an escape plan in place.
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