Property Management Nation

image from Wikipedia

The holidays are upon us and this means decorations and lights and about 250 home fires annually.  Here are some tips to follow to make sure that you can be your own Chevy Chase without burning down the neighborhood.

• Keep candles away from all decorations and NEVER use them on your Christmas tree
• Inspect all lights and cords for broken sockets, fraying wires, loose connections and check labels for proper placement (indoor or outdoor)
• Use hooks or insulated staples instead of tacks or nails to hold lights in place
• Keep lights off of metal trees and make sure they are plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters to avoid shock
• Turn off all lights before leaving the house or going to sleep
• When picking out a live tree check for freshness and set it up away from fireplaces, heaters and radiators
• Keep live trees in water to avoid them drying out
• Artificial trees should be labelled “fire-resistant”
• When using the fireplace be sure to clear area and make sure the flue is open
• Do NOT burn wrapping paper as it can cause a flash fire

Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires in the United States so be sure to excercise caution when entertaining as well.   Enjoy your holiday decorations and lights without worry this year!