a. Only choose a tree with green needles that smell fresh.

b. Needles should not break off easily.

c. Bounce tree trunk on the ground to see if needles fall off.

d. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1 to 2 inches from the base of the trunk.

e. Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.

f. Add water to the tree stand daily.

g. Make sure any artificial tree used is flame retardant

h. Get rid of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and ensure longevity.

a. Inspect wiring before use to make sure not cracked or frayed.

b. Discard light sets with damaged wiring or excessive kinking.

c. Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.

d. Do not overload outlets or connect more light sets than the manufacturer recommends.

e. Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

f. Replace lights with worn /broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.

a. Keep decorations away from all open flames.

b. Use non-combustible decorations whenever possible

a. The number of candle fires has jumped 20 percent from 1998 to 1999.

b. December is the most common month for candle fires

c. Never leave candles unattended, 4 out of 10 reported fires were due to unattended candles

d. Keep candles away from decorative vegetation and other decorations.

e. Make sure candles sit on a secure base, preferably with the flame protected by an enclosure.

f. Make sure small children cannot reach candles or pull on tablecloths to get to candles.

g. Do not fall asleep with a candle burning.

a. Keep any electric space heater at least 3 feet away from any combustible material.

a. Use only the proper fuel recommended by the manufacturer.

b. Only use heaters equipped with a "tip switch" that shuts off the fuel to the heater if tipped.

c. Make sure to follow manufacturer’s recommendation for proper ventilation.

d. Install a carbon monoxide alarm.

a. Have your fireplace professionally cleaned at the start of the season.

b. Burn only seasoned logs or fireplace logs, do not throw waste paper into the fireplace, some may pop and emit sparks.

a. Make sure you have at least one "working" smoke detector on every floor of your home including the basement outside of every bedroom within 10 feet of the door. A smoke detector should be installed in every room used for sleeping as well.

b. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and change them if they are more than one year old.

c. Buy plenty of batteries for Christmas presents and do not take the battery from your smoke detector.

d. Replace smoke detectors that are 10 years or older.

e. Consider giving somebody a smoke detector as a gift.

a. Cooking fires are leading cause of home fires in U.S.

b. Never leave cooking unattended.

c. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) discourages the use of turkey fryers since hot oil may spill and ignite and they can easily tip over. Use turkey fryers only in open areas away from buildings.