‘Tis the season to prevent house fires Published Dec. 7, 2009 Fire Prevention Office SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure approximately 2,000 individuals and cause more than $500 million in damage. According to the United States Fire Administration, there are simple, life-saving steps you can take to ensure safe and happy holidays. By following some of the outlined precautionary tips, people can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday-fire casualty. Preventing holiday tree fires Special fire-safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases. Selecting a tree for the holiday Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree is freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut for too long, has probably dried out and is a fire hazard. Caring for your tree Do not place your tree close to any heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times. Holiday lights Maintain your holiday lights Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. Do not overload electrical outlets or leave holiday lights on unattended Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch. Holiday decorations Use only nonflammable decorations All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents. Artificial holiday trees If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame-retardant. Candle Care Avoid Using Lit Candles If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders, and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never place candles near the tree, and never leave the house with candles burning. As in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home. Test them monthly, and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help, and remember to practice your home escape plan. Spangdahlem Fire Emergency Services wishes you and your family a fire-safe, happy holiday season. For more information on holiday fire safety, call the Fire Prevention Office at DSN 452-5292/5297 or visit the USFA Web site at www.usfa.fema.gov.