According to the National Fire Protection Association, 25% of fires this time of year are caused by holiday decorations. That includes approximately 200 or more fires that are caused by Christmas trees.
- Inspect all extension cords and strings of lights prior to use and don’t use if damaged. Also, don’t use ‘indoor only’ cords outside.
- Outdoor lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
- Turn off all indoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to sleep.
- Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations. They can overheat and cause a fire. Also, follow the instructions on how many strings of lights can be safely connected together. As a general rule, never connect more than three strings of incandescent lights together.
- Keep all decorations at least 3 feet away from heating equipment or open flames, such as fireplaces or candles.
- Purchase electrical decorations from reputable retailers and that are approved by a national recognized testing lab such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Also, it may be time to retire your grandparent’s lights from the 1970’s and purchase new ones that are also more energy efficient, such as LED lights.
- If you get a real Christmas tree, make a fresh cut on the trunk prior to bringing it inside and be sure to water it daily so it doesn’t get dry. In the first 2-3 days after setting it up, it can consume a surprising amount of water.
- Decorations are temporary and should be removed promptly after the holidays and properly stored so they’re safe to use next year.