Here’s some tips for preventing holiday fires from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

Cooking Fires

• Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires.
• Keep an eye on what you fry! Most cooking fires start when frying food.
• Move things that can burn away from the stove. This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so no one can bump them or pull them over.
• In case of an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the door closed until it’s cool.
• Be a safe cook: Wear short sleeves or roll them up so they don’t catch on fire.

Candles, Cords, and Lights

• Make sure to have working smoke alarms close to where anyone may be sleeping.
• Keep candles 12 inches away from things that can burn throughout the holiday season.
• Consider using flameless candles.
• Turn your holiday lights off before leaving home or going to bed.
• Remember during the holidays, don’t overload extension cords. 

Trees

• Check the water and unplug lights on your Christmas tree before you go to bed. A dry tree is more flammable.
• Water your Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is dangerous because it can catch on fire easily.
• Keep your Christmas tree at least 3 feet away from heat sources.

Here are some food safety tips from the USDA and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for making sure your holiday meal doesn’t turn into a holiday nightmare:

• Wash hands — at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water before cooking or serving food.
• Keep your kitchen “merry & bright” — by cleaning and sanitizing counters, utensils, and cutting boards before and after food prep.
• Prevent cross-contamination — don’t let raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs “party hop” onto ready-to-eat foods. Use separate cutting boards and plates.
• Thaw holiday meats safely — in the refrigerator, in cold water (changed every 30 minutes), or in the microwave — never on the countertop like a forgotten gift.
• Cook foods to safe internal temperatures —so your holiday feast is joyful, not stressful:
  – Poultry: 165°F
  – Ground meats: 160°F
  – Whole cuts of beef, pork, and seafood: 145°F with a 3-minute rest
• Use a food thermometer — to check internal temperatures; don’t rely on color or texture alone.
• Keep hot foods hot (140°F+) and cold foods cold (40°F or below) — when serving holiday meals or buffets.
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours —(1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F).
• Store leftovers in shallow containers — to help them cool quickly and stay safe for day-after celebrations.
• Reheat leftovers to 165°F — and enjoy them within 3–4 days — perfect timing for post-holiday meals.

Here’s some tips for protecting your loved ones and valuables this holiday season from the National Neighborhood Watch:

At Home

• Make sure all doors and windows have secondary locks (window pins, deadbolts, dowels, etc.) and use them!
• Don’t hide spare keys in mailboxes or planters, or under doormats.
• Ensure that dark areas and entrances have outdoor lights that are turned on after dark or are activated by sensors.
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed so they do not conceal doors and windows. Remember, overgrown foliage can provide a hiding place for criminals.
• Place gifts where they can’t be seen from the outside. 
• Consider safe deposit boxes for coin and stamp collections, seldom-worn jewelry, stock bonds, etc. 
• Be sure to mail cards, checks or gift certificates from the Post Office or at a blue U.S. Postal Service collection box.
• Lock your vehicle and remove all the valuables. Yes, even in your driveway.

Strangers at Your Door

• Use caution anytime there is a stranger at your door. 
• Be suspicious of unexpected sales calls or deliveries. Ask for identification.
• Be aware of scams that criminals commit to take advantage of people’s generosity during the holidays. 
• Investigate charities before making donations. Ask how the funds will be used.  

Leaving for the Holidays

• Ask a trusted friend, neighbor or Neighborhood Watch member to watch your home.
• Use timers for lights and radios while you’re away.
• Remember to make arrangements for mail and newspapers. 

After the Holidays

• Don’t advertise expensive toys, electronics, or other gifts received by the boxes left for garbage collections. Compress large boxes and place them in black garbage bags for pick-up. 
• Add new items to your home inventory. Take photos or video of all items of value in your home and list each item’s make, model, serial number and other information. 
• Engrave new items to help identify them in the event they are stolen.