Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

It’s fun to decorate for the winter holidays, but holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire. As you deck the halls this season, be fire smart.

• Inspect holiday lights each year before you put them up. Throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires.
• Water your Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is dangerous because it can catch on fire easily.
• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.
• If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked down easily.

For more information and free fire-safety resources, visit www.usfa.fema.gov