COEUR d'ALENE - Be safe this holiday season and follow these fire safety tips, as prepared by the United States Fire Administration to prevent fires.

• Live Tree Precautions: Needles on fresh trees should be green and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. If many needles fall off when you bounce a tree on the ground, the tree has probably dried out and is a fire hazard.

Set your tree up in a safe area, located away from all heat sources. If there are smokers in the house, do not allow them to smoke near the tree. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

As soon as the tree becomes dry, it needs to be disposed of promptly. Never put the tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

• Holiday decorative lighting

Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. Unplug all decorative lighting before you go to bed or before you leave the house.

Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory and marked for outdoor use. Run all outdoor cords above ground, keeping them out of the puddles and snow. To prevent moisture from entering bulb sockets, turn the bulbs to face the ground.

Do not overload electrical. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Wires should not be warm to the touch.

Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders.

Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper. Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.

• Fires

Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area.

• Paper and wrappings

Never place trimming near open flames or electrical connections. Remove all wrapping papers from tree and fireplace areas immediately after presents are opened. Do not burn papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

• General rules for holiday safety

Have working smoke detectors installed on every level of your home, test them monthly, and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times.

Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of the reach of children.

Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.

Make an emergency plan to use if a fire breaks out anywhere in the home. See that each family member knows what to do. Practice the plan!

Never burn candles near evergreens. Burning evergreens in the fireplace can also be hazardous.

Plan for safety. Remember, there is no substitute for common sense. Look for and eliminate potential danger spots near candles, fireplaces, trees, and/or electrical connection.

Info: Fire Chief Gabriel, 769-2340.