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With the holidays ramping up this year, gathering together with friends and family is a staple.

The National Fire Protection Association is offering tips for residents to help avoid the risk for a fire.

Follow these few simple tips to ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season:

Holiday decorating

• Chose decorations that are flame resisted or flame retardant.

• Keep lit candles away from decoration and other things that can burn.

• Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.

• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or lose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.

• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.

• Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

Holiday entertaining

• Test smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.

• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.

• Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.

• Stay in kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.

• Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children don’t touch them.

• Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigaret butts with water before discarding.

Before heading out or to bed, blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

According to the NFPA, more than one-third of home decoration fires at started by candles, and more than two of ever five decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.