Each year during the holiday season, hospital emergency rooms in the United States treat about 10,800 people for injuries such as falls, cuts and shocks related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees. There are also 11,000 candle-related fires each year resulting in 150 deaths and 1,200 injuries. Christmas trees are involved in about 600 fires annually, resulting in 50 deaths, 180 injuries and more than $15 million in property loss and damage, according to the Denver Fire Department.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFP) noted that overall, the leading causes of fires in office properties are the result of:

The Denver Fire Department urges businesses and citizens to keep the holiday safe from fires. “Decorative lights, combustible decorations, candles, special cooking, home decorating, parties where people drink and smoke and, most of all, the onset of the heating appliance season, all increase the likelihood of a fire,” the department said.

It also urged extra caution when using portable space heaters. According to the NFP, there have been more than 60,000 fires caused by space heaters since 1998. Here are some safety recommendations:

Space heater safety

• Keep kerosene and electric heaters away from curtains and wall coverings.
• Keep children away from all heaters.
• Never use gasoline in a kerosene heater.
• Make sure your heater is clean and that it carries an F.M. or U.L. listing.
• Always consult the owner’s manual before using any portable heaters.
• Never leave heaters unattended.

When decorating

• Use only U.L.-approved lights.
• Never use more than three strands linked together.
• Inspect electric lights for broken or cracked sockets and frayed wires and replace if necessary. Do not use indoor lights outdoors or vice versa.
• Do not overload extension cords, and do not connect more than three sets of lights to one cord. Outlets should be readily accessible for quick disconnection if necessary.
• Never use lighted candles near a tree or other decorations.
• All lights should be securely fastened to the tree.
• No bulbs should come into contact with needles or branches.
• Turn off all holiday lights when you leave.
• Avoid use of extension cords.
• Never run an electrical cord under carpeting.
• Use miniature lights, which have cool-burning bulbs.
• Never use candles, even on artificial trees.
• Avoid placing small or breakable ornaments on lower branches where children or pets can knock them off. Every year many children are treated for cuts from broken ornaments, or from swallowing broken pieces and small parts.

Interstate Restoration recommendations:

Maintain a safe Christmas tree

• Assign someone to water live Christmas trees daily and monitor them for signs of drying.
• Place trees at least several feet from heat sources that could contribute to drying or potentially ignite them.
• Consider low-voltage lights and decorations.
• When needles start dropping, remove and recycle the tree.

Remember the off switch
If any portable space heaters are in use, plug them directly into a wall outlet and ask people to always turn off space heaters when they leave a room unattended and especially when they leave for the night or weekend.