The holiday season is getting started, and with it, a risk of electrical fires.

Thanksgiving and the Christmas season will see a lot of electricity used. Roasters, crockpots, lights, heaters, decorations. The list goes on and on with what could be plugged in at any given time. But overloading outlets and cords can be dangerous. Too much pull for power can cause a fire.

Stuart Assistant Fire Chief Stephen Martinson says an overloaded outlet is where fire hazards can start.

“Definitely during the holiday seasons coming up, really important to make sure you’re not overloading the outlet strips or extension cords. You know, people plugging in roasters and everything else, especially coming up with Thanksgiving. You overload those power strips or extension cords, that could cause a fire in the house or short something out. So definitely do your homework and make sure you know what your power supply can handle.”

Martinson tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the best way to keep outlets and cords from being burdened is to know what their output limit is, and keep from exceeding it. Only plugging one thing into an outlet at a time, and not filling power strips can help keep electrical fires from starting.