With the Christmas season here, fire department and utilityofficials are encouraging homeowners to take precautions to avoidholiday hazards this year.

By taking a few simple steps and precautions, citizens can keepfire from destroying the holiday spirit.

“We want everyone to have safe holidays and enjoy theirfamilies,” said Brookhaven Fire Department Chief PaulCartwright.

Jim Hedges, customer service manager for Entergy, said fireskill more people in the U.S. each year than all other naturaldisasters combined. Citing National Safety Council statistics,Hedges said nearly 40 deaths and 100 injuries result from Christmastree related fires each year.

“The real tragedy is that most fire deaths could easily beprevented with a few simple precautions,” Hedges said.

When decorating the tree, Cartwright and Hedges said homeownersshould use only Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved lights,which should be examined and inspected before they are put on thetree.

Also, bulbs should be positioned so they do not touch any treebranches. Lights should be turned off at bed time or when thefamily is not at home, officials said.

Extension cords are often needed for Christmas trees. Cartwrightsaid homeowners should be careful with extension cords, do notoverload them and do not run them under rugs or carpet.

“Those things will heat up and short out,” Cartwright said.

Cartwright said live trees should be kept well-watered andplaced away from heaters and the fireplace.

Elsewhere in the home, Cartwright advised people not to leavecandles burning. The chief said the flame can get very hot andcould cause problems.

“The glass will pop on those things from time to time…,”Cartwright said. “I certainly wouldn’t leave one burning when Ileft the home.”

With temperatures starting to drop, Cartwright said homeownersshould clean and check the fire place before the first time it isused. Also, chimney vents should be checked to insure they are openafter being closed during the summer months.

“It might cause you some problems if you don’t,” the chiefsaid.

Cartwright said decorations should not be placed too close tospace heaters. Heaters should also not be placed too close todrapes, clothing or other flammable materials.

Cartwright also advised caution in the kitchen.

“Don’t forget what you’ve got on the stove when the phone ringsor you step out to another room,” Cartwright warned.

Smoke detectors remain one of the first lines of defense againsthome fires. Officials said they should be tested at least once amonth and batteries replaced once a year.

When putting up lights on homes, Hedges said a dry, woodenladder should be used when working with electricity and onlythree-wire grounded UL-approved extension cords should be used.Electrical connections should be elevated and waterproofed so thatwater cannot run along the lines and into the connections.

Bulbs should not touch flammable materials such as plastic, drygrass or leaves.

When putting decorations on the home, Cartwright said theyshould not be put up over home address numbers. He said the numbersneed to remain visible in case fire or other emergency officialshave to respond to the home.