10 Tips for Holiday Fire Safety

1. Choose Fire-Resistant Holiday Decorations

Choose decorations that are flame-resistant, non-combustible, or made from flame retardant material.

2. Watch Where You Place Candles

Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials. Never use candles to decorate your Christmas tree.

3. Buy Only Tested Lights

When purchasing your holiday lights and electrical decorations, buy those that have a label that they were tested by an independent research lab. Take a close look at the instructions that come with the decorations.

4. Inspect Older Lights

Inspect new and used light strands and replace damaged items before plugging them in, and don't overload extension cords.

5. Unplug Lights When Changing Bulbs

If you have to replace a bulb, unplug the strand of lights before you change the bulb. If you blow a fuse trying to hook up your lights, unplug them before checking the fuse box.

6. Check the Number of Strands You Need

Check to see how many strands of lights need to be connected. Don't connect more than three strands of push-in-bulbs and a maximum of 50 screw-in-bulbs.

7. Hang Lights Carefully

When hanging your lights, do so in a way that won't damage the cords' wire insulation. An example would be using clips instead of nails.

8. Keep Children and Pets Away From Lights and Candles

Make sure that children and pets can't get to electrical decorations, strands of lights and open flames.

9. Turn Off Decorations

Unplug and turn off your Holiday decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

10. Don't Turn Your Back on the Stove

The number one cause of home fires is unattended cooking. Don't lose track of what you're cooking when spending time with your family or guests.

Keep the Holiday season safe and joyous by takings these simple precautions. And as the New Year approaches, it's a good time to start thinking about updating your homeowners insurance policy.