Fire Department offers holiday safety fire tips Published Dec. 15, 2009 By Tech. Sgt. Donald Wilson 436th Civil Engineer Squaron DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The holiday season is upon us again this year, which means people are picking out trees and putting up colorful light displays. The Dover Air Force Base Fire Department would like to pass on these simple holiday tips for your family to help ensure a safe and fire free holiday season. So many house fires are preventable, especially during the holiday season and we urge people to pay attention to these holiday hazards and just use common sense. When purchasing a Christmas tree, tap the tree trunk against the ground. If large quantities of pine needles fall off, the tree has dried out, posing a fire hazard. Do not purchase a live Christmas tree if the pine needles fall off. When bringing a live Christmas tree home, make a fresh cut on the tree trunk to enable the tree to "drink water" more effectively. Keep a live Christmas tree in a sturdy Christmas tree stand, with plenty of water at all times, checking the water level daily. Monitor the condition of the Christmas tree, especially during the latter part of December. Once the pine needles start to fall off easily, the tree has dried out, posing a serious fire hazard. Do not place Christmas trees or any other combustible items near a fireplace or space heater. If purchasing an artificial Christmas tree, only purchase a tree that's fire retardant. Additionally, live trees are only permitted in residential occupancies such as housing. If planning to place a tree in the workplace, it must be artificial and fire retardant. Lights and Holiday Decorations When purchasing Christmas lights and electric holiday decorations, only purchase items with a UL (Underwriters Laboratories) sticker, seal or logo. A UL sticker or logo on holiday decorations and Christmas lights indicates that the item has passed rigorous quality control testing and safety testing with Underwriters Laboratories. Before putting Christmas lights up on the Christmas tree or on the house, check the cord for evidence of fraying, teeth marks, melting or any other damage. Wire damage is a prime cause of electrical fires. When using strings of Christmas lights, check each and every light to ensure that the bulb is sitting properly in the socket, and limit the use of electrical cords. Also avoid using electrical socket adapters that create room for additional plugs, which poses a serious fire hazard. If pets are present in the home, place decoration and Christmas light power cords inside PVC piping to help prevent damage from chewing, clawing or otherwise damaging the cord. Do not leave Christmas lights or other decorations plugged in when there's no one home. Only use "outdoor" or "indoor/outdoor" Christmas lights on the exterior of a home. Other Holiday Hazards in the Home Check that all smoke detectors (and carbon monoxide detectors) are operational, with fresh batteries. This will help alert residents quickly in the event that a fire breaks out inside the home. Keep a full size fire extinguisher on each floor of the home, and in the garage, basement and utility areas. If a holiday fire does break out inside the home, a fire extinguisher will be a first line of defense, preventing the rapid spread of a fire, especially in the case of a Christmas tree fire. Do not leave cooking food unattended when using the stove. Holiday cooking fires are common, especially when family and friends are visiting - the cook can become distracted and forget about the food on the stove. Limit the use of candles, which are a primary cause of house fires during the holiday season. Never leave a candle unattended and avoid the use of candles when children and pets are present. By following these tips, everyone can have a safer holiday season.