The holiday season’s decorations, festive meals, and traditions bring joy, but also heightened fire risks. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), December consistently sees a spike in home fires, with Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranking as the second- and third-leading days for home cooking fires in 2022.

“Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires year-round,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “When people are busy and trying to do many things at once, distractions become more likely, leading to a spike in cooking fires during the holidays.”

Holiday decorations and candles also significantly increase fire risks in December.

NFPA data shows that U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 835 home structure fires annually between 2018 and 2022 that started with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. While candles were the cause of one-third of decoration fires year-round, the percentage climbed to 46% in December.

Though less frequent, Christmas tree fires are particularly dangerous. Each year, an average of 155 home Christmas tree fires resulted in four civilian deaths, seven injuries and $15 million in property damage.

Electrical distribution and lighting equipment were involved in more than 40% of these incidents.

The rise in lithium-ion battery use also poses fire risks during the holidays, as many gift electronics rely on these batteries. NFPA advises consumers to purchase certified devices, avoid overcharging and properly recycle batteries. Damaged batteries should be discontinued.

“The commonality between the vast majority of all these fires is that they’re largely preventable,” Carli said. “By understanding potential risks and taking simple precautions, people can significantly reduce the likelihood of holiday fires.”