Take precautions to prevent holiday fires

It's the season for sharing in fire safety. Each year fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of more than 400 people, injure 1,650 and cause more than $990 million in damage nationally.

By following some of the outlined precautionary tips, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

¥ When selecting a tree for the holiday, needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut.

¥ Don't place your tree close to a heat source, such as a fireplace or furnace vent.

¥ 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.

¥ Don't overload electrical outlets. Don't link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it's safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord in the outlet.

¥ Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.

Wayne Loeffler is the chief of the Bigfork Volunteer Fire Department.