HOLIDAYS ARE HERE — AND SO IS DANGER. MONMOUTH COUNTY GETS THE WARNING.

MONMOUTH COUNTY — Before the first gift is wrapped, before the first candle is lit, Monmouth Fire Academy wants New Jersey to slow down and listen:

The holidays are beautiful — but they’re also deadly.

With Christmas trees drying out, lights overheating, kitchens crowded, and candles flickering beside decorations that burn like gasoline, fire officials say this season is a ticking time bomb for careless homeowners.

And Monmouth isn’t sugar-coating it.

“This is the most dangerous time of the year for residential fires,” an academy spokesperson said. “One spark can destroy a home — or take a life.”

THE STAT THAT SHOULD TERRIFY EVERY NJ FAMILY

Holiday fire numbers aren’t small. They’re staggering.

Nationwide, thousands of home fires ignite between late November and early January — many sparked by cooking mishaps, electrical failures, or decorations that turned into tinder.

New Jersey sees its share. Its scars. Its ashes.

Monmouth firefighters say too many families learn the truth the hard way — when a cozy living room becomes a firestorm in seconds.

“People think it won’t happen to them,” one veteran instructor said. “It’s always someone else… until it isn’t.”

THE TREE THAT CAN BURN A HOUSE IN SECONDS

The Academy’s biggest warning? Christmas trees.

Fresh-cut. Artificial. Doesn’t matter. When lights malfunction or outlets overload, they become giant, festive fire starters.

A dry tree can ignite and engulf a room faster than most people can dial 911. Firefighters say even a tiny spark — a frayed wire, a faulty bulb — can create a blazing inferno.

Their advice:

• Water real trees daily.
• Keep them away from heat sources.
• Check all light strings for damage.
• Unplug decorations before going to bed.

Simple steps. Life-or-death impact.

THE KITCHEN: WHERE HOLIDAY DREAMS TURN TO DISASTER

Holiday meals bring family together — and they send fire crews racing into the night.

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of holiday fires. A boiling pot left for “just a second,” a grease flare-up, a distracted cook — it’s the perfect recipe for chaos.

Monmouth firefighters delivered the message bluntly:

“If you’re cooking, stay in the kitchen. Walk away, and you’re gambling with your home.”

They also urged residents to keep flammable items away from stovetops, have lids ready to smother grease fires, and never — never — throw water on burning oil.

CANDLES: SMALL FLAMES, BIG NIGHTMARES

Candles light up the season — and burn down entire homes.

The Academy warns residents to keep candles a foot away from anything flammable, avoid placing them near trees or curtains, and use flameless LED options whenever possible.

Because all it takes is one knocked-over candle, one playful child, one curious pet — and suddenly the holidays are lit in the worst way imaginable.

THE ELECTRICAL THREAT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT

Holiday joy runs on power — lights, inflatables, gadgets, gifts.

But overloaded outlets and cheap extension cords are silent killers.

Fire officials issued a hard rule:

One outlet. One plug. No daisy-chains. No shortcuts.

They also cautioned residents to:

• Replace broken wires immediately
• Use outdoor-rated lights outside only
• Avoid running cords under rugs and furniture

It’s not paranoia. It’s prevention.

MONMOUTH’S FINAL WARNING: FIRES DON’T WAIT

Perhaps the Academy’s most sobering message was about timing.

Fires move faster today than ever before — fueled by synthetic furniture and plastics that burn hotter, quicker, and more toxic.

“You don’t have minutes. You have seconds,” officials said.

They urged every home to:

• Install working smoke alarms on every level
• Test alarms monthly
• Create and practice a fire escape plan

Because once flames start, survival depends on preparation — not luck.

THE HOLIDAY REALITY NEW JERSEY CAN’T IGNORE

While Monmouth Fire Academy isn’t trying to ruin the season, they’re refusing to let families walk blindly into danger.

The holidays are meant to be joyful. Warm. Bright.

But behind every burned-out home is a family that thought the same thing — until one careless moment rewrote their lives.

And so the Academy’s message lands with Jersey grit:

Celebrate. Decorate. Cook. Laugh.

But don’t be stupid.

Don’t be careless.

Don’t be the headline.

THE FINAL WORD

As lights flicker across Monmouth County and trees glow in living rooms, firefighters want just one promise from residents:

Stay alert. Stay prepared. Stay alive.

Because the holidays should end with memories —

Not ashes.