(Hartford, Conn.WTIC)-As families prepare for Christmas, a fire official has offered advice on how to keep your tree safe from starting a fire.
Alan Zygmunt, Public Education Coordinator with the Connecticut Fire Academy says "cooking fires, heating system fires and fires from holiday decorations increase during this time of year."
His advice includes check lights for broken insulation or frayed wires. Prevent the overload of electrical outlets and don't run extension cords under rugs, across doorways or heaters. Zygmunt also warns that if you use candles, utilize a tip-proof candle holder, and extinguish the flame when you leave the room. He says 60-percent of all holiday decoration fires are caused by candles.
Zygmunt also advises watering the tree every day because a dried-out tree is a tremendous fire hazard.
He also says fireplaces should use a screen to catch sparks and embers from entering the room.





