If you have ever lived in a Dallas area apartment with a firebug, you know how annoying it can be to have to evacuate your unit at 3am two or three times a week. As bothersome and costly as these false alarms are, the worst thing they do is that they lower our defenses should a real fire break out. While there is nothing you can do to stop other people from starting fires, there are some common sense things you can do to make sure you aren’t the one responsible.

More fires are started every year by candles than any other source. While candles can be romantic and beautiful, they can also be deadly. You should never leave candles burning unattended, even if your power has gone out. Try to light only one candle and walk around with it. You can also use paper guards so you don’t drop a candle when hot wax drips on your hand.

The second most common cause of fires is when people fall asleep while cooking. Leaving the oven on all night or a burner on while you are cooking can be very dangerous, and since you are asleep, the chances of you making it out alive are slim. Make sure your apartment manager checks your fire alarms on a regular basis so you know they are safe and working. Your unit should also have regular check ins by the local fire department to make sure everything works properly.

You also need to be extra careful of fire hazards if you have a pet. Fido or Fluffy will likely be attracted to open flames from candles and they may not be as careful as you are around them. Pets often don’t learn about flames, even after they have burnt themselves over and over again. They can also get tails and their haunches caught on the flame if they try to jump over it. Make sure you keep any open flames out of the reach of pets and children.