ST. LOUIS – The most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn tragic.

“We estimate around 1,400 kitchen fires each year around Thanksgiving. It’s about three times the amount we normally see,” Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric said.

He urges caution in the kitchen and recommends holiday cooks don’t leave ovens and cooktops unattended, along with being mindful of what you’re wearing, as loose clothing can catch fire.

“Definitely keep the kids away from the stove and the kitchen, just to make sure that nobody knocks something over and you end up either starting a fire or having bad burns,” Hoehn-Saric said.

If you’re frying your turkey, firefighters offer these safety tips:

Don’t use too much oil

Don’t cook a frozen or partially thawed turkey

Don’t cook too close to a structure

Don’t let oil and water mix

Don’t leave it unattended

If your holiday plans include decorating, the CPSC wants the experience to be joyful, not painful.

“We see a lot of falls this time here, people are climbing up on ladders to put up lights. So, if you are going to use a ladder, make sure that you have somebody spotting in you and put it on a front flat surface to avoid those kinds of falls,” Hoehn-Saric added.

It’s recommended to check light strands for frayed wires and broken sockets to prevent fire risk. When it comes to your tree, artificial or real, make sure they’re safe.

“If it’s artificial, make sure that is up to the appropriate standards. It has the certifications associated with those Christmas trees. If it’s alive, always make sure that they’re well-watered throughout the entire time they’re up, Christmas trees can get dry very quickly, and if they’re exposed to a flame, they can go up like a bonfire, so just be careful,” Hoehn-Saric said.

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