The holiday season officially begins with Thanksgiving, bringing with it more cooking, Christmas trees, holiday lighting, and a higher risk for home fires. Yankton County Deputy Fire Chief, Larry Nickles, says the first step is checking your home’s heating system and considering safety when preparing for the holidays.

Nickles says many of the Christmas tree farms cut trees fresh, and the extra time should be taken to cut the base of the tree again after its taken home.

Nickles says that, traditionally, the number of home fires is low in this region, thanks to increased prevention and awareness. He urges that residents also check the status of their smoke detectors to make sure they are working properly.