The holiday season brings traditions, parties, shopping, entertaining – and potential danger, according to Steven Bryant of SERVPRO of DeKalb County.

The latest statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) show the holidays are a high-risk time for home fires. Christmas trees are responsible for 240 home fires each year, and other holiday decorations are the cause of another 1,170 fires. Thanksgiving Day sees almost a threefold increase in cooking-related fires; cooking fires are almost twice as likely to happen on Christmas Day as on non-holidays.

“No one wants to think about the possibility of losing their home, and even more tragically, lives because of a fire during the holidays,” Bryant said. “But statistics show it’s important to be aware of the increased risk decorating, entertaining and cooking can cause during the holidays.”