Home Owners Should be Fire Safe with Holiday Decorations

Everyone loves decorating their homes around the holidays. But Christmas trees, lights, candles and many other festive decorations can pose a fire risk if not installed with care.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reminding everyone to be safe during the holidays and consider the fire impact of decorations. Its tips for a safe, festive home include:

• Water your live Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is a fire hazard. Trees too close to a heat source cause one in every four winter fires.
• Make sure you are using the right lights. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
• Choose holiday decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and things that can burn. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. Consider using flameless candles: they look very similar and are safer.
• Blow out lit candles and turn off all light strings and decorations when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Make sure your decorations don't block windows and doors.

Stay safe this holiday season and protect your home and family from preventable accidents. Happy Holidays!