Select a fresh Christmas tree with green needles that don't easily break off and a trunk that feels sticky. Place the tree away from heat sources and keep plenty of water in the tree stand to prevent it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Inspect holiday lights for damage each year and do not overload electrical outlets by linking too many light strands or devices to a single cord.

1. Fire Prevention Information

2. Selecting a live Christmas Tree
• Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull
back from the branches.
• Needles should not break if the tree has been freshly
cut.
• The trunk should be sticky to the touch.
• Bounce the tree trunk on the ground, lots of needles
will fall off a dried out tree.
• Dried out trees are a FIRE HAZARD

3. Caring for a live Christmas Tree
• Do not place the tree close to a heat
source
• Heat will dry out a tree, causing it to be more
easily to ignite.
• Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Live trees are fresh for about two weeks.
• Use nonflammable decorations and UL lights.
• No burning candle decorations

4. 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

5. Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
• Do not link more than three light strands.
• Connect strings of lights to an extension cord
before plugging the cord into the outlet.
• Periodically check the wires – wires should not
be warm to the touch.