Christmas trees and decorations bring holiday spirit, as well as fire hazards.

Between 2012-16 there was an annual average of 170 house fires caused by Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Agency. According to Ainsworth Fire Chief Waylon Schultz, there are steps to help prevent these kinds of fires, “If you have a real Christmas tree, obviously make sure it’s getting watered and that it’s not getting dried out. If it gets too dry the lights can heat it up and can start those trees on fire and they tend to burn rather quickly.”

The other two leading causes of home fires during the holidays are decorations and candles. Schultz says when decorating your home with lights, use the manufacturer’s instructions on the package. When using candles in the home, make sure they are being supervised and not near anything that could cause a fire. Decorations, like lights and cardboard, don’t always need a direct flame to start a fire, just the heat from a nearby candle or heating source can cause the decoration to combust.