ST. PAUL — The winter holiday season is historically a dangerous time for residential fires and fire deaths in Minnesota; last year, 17 people died in fires in November and December alone, the most during those two months since 1995, according to numbers from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division.

Nine of the 17 deaths happened between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, making 2017’s winter holiday season the deadliest since 2013.   

In a press release from the SFMD, State Fire Marshal Bruce West urged Minnesotans to take extra caution. Two leading causes of Minnesota residential fires last year — cooking and heating — are holiday staples.

“We’re being pulled in different directions, so fire prevention and safety can take a back seat,” West said. “Not putting safety first could have tragic consequences for you, your family or your holiday guests.”

West offered the following tips to keep homes and families safe this holiday season:

• Never leave food cooking on the stove unattended.
• Set a timer if cooking something in the oven for a long period of time.
• Smother a grease fire with a pan lid and turn off the burner. Never try to move the pan.
• Keep anything combustible (paper towels, rags, aprons) three feet from the stove.
• Keep space heaters three feet from anything combustible.
• Do not leave space heaters running unattended — including when you are sleeping.
• Plug space heaters into the wall, not an extension cord; unplug them when not in use.
• Do not use space heaters to dry wet clothing.
• Keep candles three feet from combustibles; do not leave candles burning unattended.
• Many holiday decorations are combustible. Keep them three feet from any heat source.
• Never burn wrapping paper in a fireplace; it burns too fast and hot to be controlled.
• Keep holiday trees watered. Dry trees are extremely combustible.

Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms also play an important role in fire safety. Smoke and CO alarms save lives — but only if they work. The SFMD encourages residents to test their alarms before their holiday gatherings.