Gaston Rural Fire District

The holidays are among the happiest time of the year ... and among the most-dangerous if you're careless with cooking or with holiday decorations.

The video above shows what can happen if you let a Christmas tree go dry: In less than a minute your house can be engulfed in flames, all from a single spark.

In contrast, researchers at the National Institutes of Standard and Safety found that a well-watered tree was very difficult to ignite.

The U.S. Fire Administration has common sense tips to prevent a blaze while cooking or selecting a Christmas tree. Click here to learn more.

Every year about this time, houses burn because of turkey fryers. In other cases, people suffer serious burns to their bodies.

So if your plans this week include a big turkey and a vat of peanut oil, Underwriters Laboratories has a series of tips to make sure your holiday dinner is a safe and happy one.

Click here to learn more about turkey frying.