While the thoughts of most residents this time of year turn to holiday meals, reuniting with family and finishing last-minute shopping, fire officials are hoping safety precautions also stay foremost in people's minds.

The National Fire Protection Association warns of several fire hazards directly related to the winter and holiday season, including dangers presented by Christmas trees, holiday lights, candles and home heating devices.

Woodstock Fire Marshal Dick Baron said the colder months inevitably mean more fires caused by wood stoves, specifically because of improper ash disposal.

"We always ask people to treat all ashes, even those days old, as if they were hot," Baron said. "Those ashes, especially if they're scattered on combustible material like leaves, can reignite."

Baron said ashes from a wood stove or fireplace should be placed in a metal container and wet-down before being dumped.

"And don't dump them near your house or porch," he said. "But especially, don't leave an ash bucket in your house."

A Woodstock man died in a fire Sunday night, likely caused by the improper disposal of smoking material.

Pomfret Fire Marshal Ray Allen said one of the biggest dangers this time of year is overloaded electrical systems.

"I've seen people plug a surge protector into another surge protector, than add an extension cord to another surge protector," he said. "And the other big problem is extension cords."

Allen said extension cords are for temporary use and should be rated for the job they're being used for.

"You can't tie those cords into loops and coil them up under a bed — they produce heat, which can cause a fire," he said. "If you're doing that, there's a good chance we're going to get called out to your house for a fire."

Allen said the introduction of low-voltage Christmas tree lights have made tree fires less a threat than they were decades ago, though basic precautions still need to be taken.

"All trees will lose some needles, but if you're seeing a lot of shedding or brown spots, get that tree out of your house," he said.

Danielson Fire Chief Gerry Marcheterre said candles also become more of a potential hazard during the winter months.

"There's not a reason, especially with the availability of electric candles and flashlights, to use a regular candle for illumination," he said. "And remember not to overload your circuits — there's a reason a plug only has two holes."