Front door decorated for the holidays

Christmas Safety

Winter holidays are truly magical, filled with cozy fires, hot cocoa and colorful lights. If you don’t practice safety though, your winter wonderland could become a holiday hazard. Make sure you follow the below tips to keep your holiday season merry and bright.

Did you know that more than one-third of home decoration fires are caused by candles? Almost half of all decoration fire happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source!

Top 10 Christmas Safety Tips

  • Don’t share your holiday travel plans online
  • If you’re using candles or the fireplace, make sure they are fully extinguished prior to retiring for the night
  • Turn off your Christmas lights when leaving the house or going to bed
  • Watch out for online shopping fraud
  • Inspect electrical decorations for damage before use
  • Water your Christmas tree daily
  • Have packages delivered when you’ll be at home to avoid porch theft
  • Watch out for online shopping fraud
  • Make sure your tree is properly secured and away from any fire hazards
  • Invest in a home security system
  • Don?t overload your home’s electrical circuits

Try something different.? Call your local U.S. Forest Service District office to obtain a permit to cut your own Christmas tree.