At least 13 people died due to fires in Milwaukee this year; how to prevent accidents this holiday season

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The fire that broke out in a 2.5-story residential building, displacing two families early Monday in Milwaukee, is the latest residential fire reported this month.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski recently stated in a press conference that so far, at least 13 people have died this year. State officials say there are ways to reduce the risk of fire hazards and injuries this holiday season.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

"It's really important to make sure that, you know, the kitchen is a safe space for those cooking, making sure there's no decorations near the oven, near the stove that could easily catch fire," said Andrew Beckett, the public information officer for Wisconsin Emergency Management. 

The Milwaukee Fire Department told CBS 58 News 18 residential fires have been reported during the month of November. Last year, the Red Cross assisted 53 households in Milwaukee County between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

Beckett said lighting equipment issues are responsible for about a third of home Christmas tree fires.

"If you have a real Christmas tree in your house, you want to make sure it's getting watered daily and then you also want to make sure any lights that are on that tree are inspected properly before they're put up," he added.

The NFPA also reports that nearly half of the home decoration fires reported in the U.S. during December are caused by candles.

"It's important that if you use candles, that they are being kept at least a foot away from any sort of flammable source...you never want to leave them unattended," Beckett said.

Experts stress smoke detectors are an extremely important warning tool. Make sure they are tested monthly, change the batteries every six months and replace them every 10 years.

Residents in Milwaukee who are in need of a smoke alarm can call the city’s smoke alarm hotline at 414-286-8980, to arrange a free installation.