The holidays are a magical time of year for many as we decorate our homes and businesses with trees, lights and other signs of the season.

But these decorations can also pose a safety risk.

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King is reminding Georgians “to take certain precautions when decorating their homes this holiday season. When handled improperly, Christmas trees and other holiday decorations can pose fire safety risks.”

As reported by the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments across the nation respond to approximately 160 home fires each year that begin with Christmas trees. Further, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 790 home fires that began with Christmas decorations other than trees. These fires cause an annual average of one death, 26 fire-related injuries, and $13 million in property damage.

In recognition of these risks, follow these holiday fire safety tips from the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office to keep your family and home safe this holiday season.

¯ Make sure to water live trees daily. Dry trees, as demonstrated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, can become completely engulfed in flames in less than one minute.

¯ Keep your tree at least 3 feet from any heat source, including fireplaces, radiators, candles or heat vents. One in five tree fires could be traced to a heat source that was too close to the tree.

¯ Check your Christmas lights boxes to see if they have the label of a recognized testing laboratory and to verify whether they are indoor or outdoor lights.

¯ Turn off all decorations when you go to bed and when you leave the house.

¯ Inspect all lights and decorations for cracks, damaged sockets and loose or bare wires. Unplug all electrical lights and devices before conducting any major or minor repairs.

¯ Keep lit candles away from Christmas trees, decorations and other items that can burn.

* Guest editorial by the Dalton Daily Citizen, Ga.