Christmas trees, lights and candles help make the holiday bright. Local fire officials say they can also bring fire hazards into the home.

"The Arlington Fire Department wishes everyone a happy holiday season and encourages everyone to be safe," said Lt. Randy Ingram, the Fire Department’s Community Relations Officer.

Each year in the United States, there are more than 11,600 candle-related fires that result in 150 deaths, 1,200 injuries and an estimated $173 million in property loss, according the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission who also urges consumers to decorate safely. Christmas trees are a primary cause in most residential fires.

The best preventative measure is awareness, said Lt. Ingram. The Fire Department offers the following fire prevention suggestions:

• Keep Christmas trees moist with water and nourished with a plant food solution, which is available at most nurseries. Dry trees are extremely flammable.
• Keep real and artificial Christmas trees at least three feet away from fireplaces, heat sources and open flames.
• Do not use candles on Christmas trees.
• Make sure Christmas trees are properly anchored so they do not tip over and fall.
• Be watchful of young children near Christmas trees. Do not let children play with wiring or lights. Injuries could include electric shock, burns and cuts from broken light bulbs. Make sure children can’t pull a Christmas tree over onto themselves.

• Always turn off holiday lights before leaving home and before going to bed.
• Do not mount lights with nails or staples that can damage cords. Use clips made for hanging lights.
• Make sure lights on the Christmas tree are in good working order. Do not use broken cords, frayed wires or loose bulbs. Plug in lights to a power strip with a breaker.
• If stringing exterior lights, use lights that are made for outdoor use. They are heavy-duty and provide moisture barriers for better safety.

• Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
• Extinguish candles when leaving the room and before going to bed.
• Keep candles away from flammable liquids and items such as curtains, Christmas trees, decorations and paper.
• Make sure smoke detectors are working properly.

• Fireplaces that are used frequently should be inspected and cleaned annually.
• Space heaters are the main cause of fires during December, January, and February. Keep combustible materials at least three feet away. Use a space heater equipped with a safety switch that turns off the heater if it is tipped over.