![winter holiday fires](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/LABAKER/2021/12/5270984/winter-holiday-fires-image_original.png) Decorate with fire safety in mind
The winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. It’s fun to decorate for the winter holidays, but holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire. As you deck the halls this season, be fire smart.
Following a few simple tips can help make your holidays fire-safe:
• Water your live Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is a fire hazard. Trees too close to a heat source cause 1 in every 4 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 1/3 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.
Download the winter holiday fires infographic to share with your community or use social media cards on your social channels.
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