You may like to have your home smelling like evergreen trees and other festive scents, but it’s important to be careful lighting candles in your home this holiday season.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, the top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. In the period of 2012-2016 falling asleep was a factor in 11% of home candle fires and 21% of the associated deaths. Stuart Fire Chief Mike Renslow gives these tips for managing lit candles, “Just be aware of where you’re placing those, keeping those away from, obviously, if you have a live Christmas tree keeping it far enough away from there. Keeping it away from holiday decorations, curtains, things of that nature, (it’s) kind of common sense but sometimes you may miss that in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.”

The NFPA advises to blow out lit candles when you leave a room or go to bed. Other precautions to take this season include turning off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed, keeping children and pets away from lit candles, and placing matches and lighters up high and in a locked cabinet.