The Woodstock Fire Department wants to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.
WOODSTOCK - The Woodstock Fire Department has some tips to make sure everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.
Public Information Coordinator Lisa Woods says you should avoid leaving the kitchen if you're baking or cooking Christmas dinner.
"We know that people can forget that they were in the kitchen cooking, so either turn it off or take something with you when you leave the kitchen to remind you that something is in the oven or on the stove. Kitchen fires are a number one cause of fires."
You should also make sure your Christmas tree is away from any heat sources and water it daily if it's a real one. Real Christmas trees can require up to three to four litres of water per day.
Woods recommends using battery-operated candles instead of real ones. If you have real candles, make sure they are in a sturdy container and away from children and pets.
If you have any smokers visiting you over the holidays, make sure you have a bucket with a bit of water in it outside, so they have a safe place to butt out.
Woods says the holiday season is usually a busy time of the year for firefighters.
"We definitely do have a little bit of a spike over the Christmas holidays, just because you are out of your normal pattern and habits and you tend to be distracted more easily. Distraction is the number one reason we have fires in the first place."
She's also stressing the importance of checking your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they are in working order.
"Kitchener just had a fatality from carbon monoxide poisoning on Tuesday. We really don't want to go down that road again here in Woodstock, so we're really encouraging people to check both sets of alarms."

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