Did you know that Christmas trees alone cause $130 million in property damage annually? More importantly, these fires present real risks to family and friends. When a live tree is displayed in your home, the combination of tree dryness, electrical malfunction with lights, and poorly located heating sources can make for a deadly combination.

But if your holiday is just not complete without a live tree, follow these safety precautions to keep threats at bay:

• Fresh trees are less likely to catch fire, so look for a tree with vibrant green needles that are hard to pluck and don’t break easily from its branches. The tree shouldn’t be shedding its needles readily.
• Always place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights, and keep the tree base filled with water to avoid a dry-out
• Make sure all your indoor and outdoor Christmas lights have been tested for safety in a lab by the UL or ETL/ITSNA, and throw out any damaged lights.
• Any outdoor lights must be labeled suitable for exterior placement, and be sure to plug into a ground-fault circuit interrupter-protected receptacle.
• Keep your holiday candles away from your Christmas tree, furniture, and décor.
• Bedtime means lights off; don’t forget to turn your Christmas tree light switch each night.
• When your tree begins to drop its needles, it’s time to say goodbye to your evergreen foliage until next year.