Once again, ‘tis the season for festive decorations, family gatherings, and holiday merriment. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for home fires. In fact, the National Fire Protection Agency states that a home fire is most likely to occur during the months of December and January, and that’s directly attributable to various holiday season activities.

So, as you prepare to welcome friends loved ones, follow these 10 safety tips to help ensure your home is a warm, inviting and safe place to gather.

• Opt for a fresh-cut vs. pre-cut tree as the former is less likely to dry out and become brittle. Still, if pre-cut is how you roll, cut 2” off the bottom just before placing it in the stand so it will absorb more water.
• If you’re buying an artificial tree, make sure it’s labeled “fire-retardant.”
• Real or fake, place your Christmas tree at least 3 feet away from any heat source, such as a fireplace, candles, radiator, or heat vent.
• Purchase only those holiday season light sets certified by an independent testing laboratory, such as UL.
• Prior to hanging lights, check each strand to make sure it works. Also, inspect it for loose connections, frayed wires, or cracked bulbs.
• Consider switching over to LED lights, a more energy efficient choice that’s also cool to the touch.
• If you’re adding a little holiday sparkle outdoors, use clips – not nails – to hang your lights. Also, use only those lights and wires designated for outdoor use.
• To prevent over-heating, avoid connecting more than 3 strands of traditional lights into a single extension cord (LED lights allow for more). Also, avoid using more than one extension cord for each string of lights.
• As tempting as it may be to leave your Christmas tree and outdoor lights on at night, turn them off before going to bed or when leaving the house.
• Discard the Christmas tree once it starts drying out and dropping needles. A dry tree is a serious fire hazard.

For your added protection, now is a great time to test and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.  Or, how about replacing those with hard-wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for your heightened peace of mind.  Now Security not only installs but monitors fire prevention alarms 24/7, which means someone’s always watching out for signs of trouble, even when you’re asleep or not at home.  Contact Now Security today for more information and a free in-home quote.