House fires are common this time of year: Here's how to avoid them

Dry Christmas trees, overloaded electrical circuits, fires on the hearth and unattended candles, cooking or kids create plenty of chances that firefighters will be part of your holidays.

Christmas and Christmas Eve house fires are fairly common in the suburbs. Last year on Christmas Eve, a dog was killed when an unattended candle sparked a house fire in Cary. Later that same day, an artificial tabletop tree caught fire at an Inverness home, causing roughly $1,000 worth of damage.

“There do seem to be a lot more fires this time of year,” said McHenry Assistant Fire Chief Mike Majercik, whose department battled a blaze in Holiday Hills Sunday caused by a heating light catching a doghouse on fire. The dog was uninjured, Majercik said. The house sustained substantial damage and the family won't be calling it home for the holidays.

On Wednesday, suburban firefighters dealt with at least four house fires.

Most fire officials say the unattended or forgotten lit candle is the biggest threat, making small, battery-powered fake candle lights a good alternative.

“Candles are always a problem,” Palatine Fire Division Chief Paul Wallis said. “It doesn't matter what time of year.”

Improperly discarded matches or leaving fire-making materials where children can get to them are also risky. In 2000, teenagers playing with a lighter in a Vernon Hills house accidentally set the Christmas tree on fire and caused $5,000 worth of damage on New Year's Day.

Simply spending more time indoors adds to the chances for house fires to happen, fire officials say.

Chimney fires and blazes sparked by faulty heating systems are more common this time of year, Majercik said.

Fire officials have advice to reduce the risk of house fires. They say homeowners should keep live trees watered, even after Christmas is over. Never leave an open flame unattended. Clean chimneys and heating systems before using them at the onset of cold weather. Don't use old holiday lights or leave them on when you're gone.

“It would be nice if we had heightened awareness throughout the year,” said Wheaton Fire Department Deputy Chief Bill Schultz, “but sometimes we need more attention than others, especially this time of year.”

Most fire departments participate in a holiday fire awareness program called “Keep the Wreath Red.” If a fire occurs in the department's community related to holiday decorations, departments change out a red light in the wreath with a blue or white one to remind people to be careful with their decorations.

“We're still red this year,” Wallis said. “There have been a couple years where it hasn't been like that.”