Many tasks must be accomplished during the holiday season, such as shopping for gifts. Yet no other chore can be more important or more essential to one’s security and peace of mind as practicing proper fire safety procedures when decorating.

Tom Doyle, acting assistant chief of the DeKalb Fire Department, warned that many precautions should be used when setting up a Christmas tree, especially one that is real.

“All trees should be kept away from any sources of intense heat such as fireplaces and heating registers, where there is a high chance of them catching fire,” Doyle said. “Trees should also be kept away from the normal pathway of people who smoke.” Doyle said fresh trees require even more attention than artificial trees, because there is an even higher risk that fresh trees might catch fire.

Real trees should be bought as fresh as possible and watered regularly to ensure they do not dry up prematurely and become more flammable, thus causing an even greater fire hazard.

Another factor people should consider when decorating their homes is the danger that strings of lights might present if not displayed properly, Doyle said.

Doyle said overloading strings of lights together or using an too many extension cords is inviting disaster.

Also, no electric cord should be run under rugs in an area where the cord will can be walked on, Doyle said. All cords should be checked before use to make sure they are not frayed, which could lead to a short circuit.

Doyle said even garland can be hazardous if placed in areas around candles, fireplaces, or any areas where there is a possibility of the garland catching fire.

The same fire safety rules which apply to garland and trees also can be applied to pine cone wreaths and other trimmings which are not fire-proof.

To help promote fire safety consciousness during the holiday season, the DeKalb Fire Department initiated a unique tradition three years ago.

“The fire department has placed a red wreath of red light bulbs on the front of Station One,” Doyle said. “If any sort of fire or medical emergency occurs, a red bulb will be replaced by a white bulb.”

It is the goal of the fire department, and hopefully of the DeKalb Community, to keep the wreath red this holiday season.