The Anne Arundel County Fire Department says residents should be careful when cooking and decorating during the holiday season in order to prevent fires.
“Around the holidays we get more incidents involving cooking appliances,” said Lt. Russ Davies, a spokesman for the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.
Cooking related-fires are the leading cause of house fires, accounting for three out of every 10. The fires usually occur when household items like food, cabinets, bags or curtains are ignited, according to the National Fire Protection Association?s Web site.
Electric ranges have a higher risk of fires, but gas ranges have a higher risk of fire deaths, according to the site.
Holiday cooks should always watch over their food as it is cooking on the stove, Davies said.
Most other holiday related fires are related to decorations, Davies said.
“We start to get problems with lights and Christmas trees, especially the people who have a live Christmas tree in their home,” Davies said.
It is important to remove trees soon after Christmas, when they become dry and are easier to catch fire, he said.
The department was unable to compile statistics about the number of fires that occur during the winter months in Anne Arundel County in time for the story, said Stuart McNicol, division chief for the department
Holiday candles are also often the cause of house fires, said Stuart McNicol, a Fire Department division chief.
“The fire department hopes nobody ever uses a candle. But we know that?s not practical. People are going to celebrate the holidays, and many traditions involve candles,” McNicol said.
One mistake is leaving a candle on top of a fire place or wood stove, because the wax can melt and set fire if it gets hot enough.
Most importantly, never leave a candle unattended, he said.
“Be careful, and be aware,” McNicol said.
