The El Paso Fire Department want El Pasoans to have a happy and safe holiday season. Check out their list of Holiday Decorating Safety tips.

The holidays are a great time to spend time with your loved ones, and show off your decorating skills by making your house into a festive winter wonderland. But safety is still a big issue to make sure your holiday isn't ruined by a accident. To help you deal with all your once a year decorations, the El Paso Fire Department has released a helpful video as well as tips to help you decor safe this holiday season.

Holiday decorations increase the risk of fire and electrical injuries inside of homes during the season. About 260 home fires start with a Christmas tree each year resulting in 12 deaths, 24 injuries and $16.4 million in property damages according to the El Paso Fire Department.

To help El Pasoans stay safe this holiday, the El Paso Fire Department released these guidelines:

Candles

Avoid using real candles in displays if lighting them. Consider battery-operated candles if you want that lit candle look. If you do do use candles, keep them away from combustibles like decorations and wrapping paper and place them in locations where they won't be knocked over. Never use lighted candles on a tree or other greenery, leave them unattended or near pets and children. Extinguish all candles when exiting a room.

Christmas Trees 

When using live trees, check for freshness; a fresh tree will stay green longer and be green longer. Heated rooms will dry out live tress quickly so it is important to keep the tree stand full of water. When using an artifical tree, make sure to purchase one that is labeled "Fire Resistant." Don't use electrical ornaments or light strings on artificial trees with metallic leaves or branch coverings. Make sure the tree is placed at least three feet from all heat sources like fireplaces, radiators and space heaters. Make sure your tree's lights are unplugged before going to bed.

Lights/ Electrical Decorations 

Carefully inspect for cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires and loose connections. Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations or electrical devices. Only use lights approved by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. Consider purchasing LED lights, which use less energy and run cooler than incandescent lights. If you choose to use incandescent lights, never strong more than three strands together. Unplug electrical decorations when replacing bulbs or fuses. Unplug all decorations when leaving the house or going to sleep.

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