Deck The Halls Safely

Christmas tree

San Andreas, CA — Cal Fire wants everyone to have a safe Christmas without any decoration hazardous this holiday.

Holiday decoration fires are most likely to happen in the living room, family room or den, according to fire officials, who add that almost half of all home decoration fires are started by candles being too close to a heat source.

The latest statistics available from Cal Fire show that nearly 300 Christmas tree and holiday decoration fires were reported in 2011.  Cal Fire warns that a Christmas tree is a major concern because if dry, it can go up in flames in just seconds.

CAL FIRE provides these tree and decoration holiday safety tips:

Christmas Trees:

• When selecting your live Christmas tree, choose a fresh one with green needles.
• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut two inches from the base of the trunk for better water absorption.
• Check the water level in the tree stand every day.
• Keep both live and artificial trees at least 3 feet away from any heat source including fireplaces and heating vents.
• Decorate Christmas trees with lights that have been tested and labeled by a recognized testing lab.
• Never use lit candles to decorate any tree.
• Unplug Christmas tree lights when leaving home or going to bed.

Holiday Decorations:

• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors.
• Replace any light strings that are worn or have broken cords or have loose bulb connections.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
• Keep your exits clear by keeping decorations away from windows and doors.