The Penticton Fire Department is offering Christmas holiday safety tips, following a house fire in the city last weekend.
In this situation, the blaze in the 200 block of Okanagan Avenue West was caused by a candle in a bathroom.
"This is the time of year when candles are popular, and they should never be left unattended," said Jody Fotherby, operations assistant for the department.
Firefighters responded to the call at 1:48 p.m. last Sunday. The fire was contained to the upstairs bathroom and crews were able to get the upper hand before it spread.
The residents of the home were OK, but expected to be out for several days or weeks while restoration crews restored the damage.
In addition to not leaving candles unattended, Fotherby suggested never leaving small children alone with lit candles, making sure they are not close to anything combustible and never putting candles on a tree.
"Candles should be put in a holder, preferrably a glass one so the flame is inside," she said.
Other fire safety tips for the holiday season are making sure decorations don't block Christmas exits in the home, having working smoke alarms and a family fire escape plan.
If people have company, it's a good idea to talk to friend and relatives about that escape plan.
For Christmas trees, make sure they are watered regularly. For lights in the home and artificial trees make sure they are CSA/ULC approved.
It is also never a good idea to hang outdoor Christmas lights using staples.
When cooking Christmas dinner have a three foot safety zone around the stove. It is wise to turn pot handles toward the back and small children should not be running in the kitchen.
Fotherby added that the holidays can bring additional concerns, but it's important at any time of the year to have working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan.