AUBURN, Mass. - Candles are often used in holiday traditions, including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, so this holiday season, Gov. Maura Healey proclaimed Monday as “Candle Safety Day.”

There have been more than 1,000 candle fires in Massachusetts in the last 10 years, resulting in 11 deaths, according to the state’s fire marshal.

To stay safe, Auburn Fire captain Justin Brigham recommends keeping combustibles away from candles and regularly checking your smoke detectors.

“DFS recommends a foot away from all candles,” Brigham said. “Place your candle on something hard, non-combustible - no papers, cardboards or anything like that. And again, always the recommendation out of DFS is to make sure that you have working smoke detectors in your home. Early detection means everything."

According to Department of Fire Services, reports of candle fires tend to peak around Christmas Day.