Halloween is right around the corner, with Thanksgiving and Christmas in the coming months.

Stuart Assistant Fire Chief Shane Martinson says that there are a few things people need to keep in mind to keep the risk of fires to a minimum when preparing for the holidays. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that one is to not go overboard with decorations.

“During the holiday seasons people bring out a lot of decorations, a lot of which need plugged in. It’s important to not overload your outlets and be mindful of older and outdated electrical systems.”

Martinson mentions that another way to stay safe is to be careful when cooking. He adds that this can be done by not overloading outlets like with the decorations, and making sure you pay attention when preparing foods so that an accident doesn’t occur.