With an increase in fires around the holiday season, one local fire department is spreading some safety tips.

Battalion Chief Brandon Edo, of the Milford Fire Department, says they see an uptick in fires from overloaded power strips, lights, decorations and Christmas trees this time of year.

Firefighters say that the best way to dispose of ashes from a fireplace is to put them in a metal container with a sealed lid and let them cool for a few days.

Chief Edo says never to leave ashes near anything flammable, like dead leaves or brush.

"Ashes may not appear or seem hot when you dispose of them from your fireplace or wood stove, but they will keep that heat for a longtime," Chief Edo says. "When you dump them outside, the wind or flammable materials close by can ignite without you expecting."

Fire officials say to make sure to water Christmas trees on a daily basis and always call 911 if you suspect a fire in your home.

"Our goal is to keep the community safe," Chief Edo says. "The sooner we can get there, the better."

Milford firefighters took part in an annual "flash simulator" training exercise on Thursday. The trailer used for the training was donated by the Fairfield Regional Fire School.