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"  If your family is anything like mine, you&amp;#039;ve probably seen both A Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story about a gazillion times already this holiday season and know what happens when Mr. Parker plugs in one too many electrical products and Uncle Lewis lights a cigar. While these types of incidents are funny when we know they&amp;#039;re pure fiction and no one&amp;#039;s actually harmed, they&amp;#039;re not so funny when they happen to real families. According to a 2013 report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), from 2007 to 2011 there was $18.3 million in direct property damage, 6 civilian deaths, and 22 injuries from Christmas tree fires. To protect your family, follow these tips for Christmas tree safety and reduce the risk of a fire.  Do an electrical check: The same study from the NFPA points out that 32% of home Christmas tree fires were started by an electrical failure or malfunction and that 12% were caused by decorative lights on a line voltage. That&amp;#039;s why it&amp;#039;s critical to check any decorations that use electricity before putting them on the tree. Check lights for frayed wires, excessive wear, or cracked sockets. Look for the UL label on each string and never string more than three lights together at one time. If you&amp;#039;re going to be away from your house for any time at all, turn off your lights before you leave. Location, location, location: NFPA reports that 17% of Christmas tree fires were caused by a heat source that was too close to the Christmas tree and 7% by candles. Set your tree up a safe distance away from any heat source, including, but not limited to, fireplaces, radiators, heat vents, and of course candles. Make sure your tree isn&amp;#039;t blocking any exits, so if it does ignite, you and your family can escape safely. Maintain your Christmas tree: A big reason Christmas trees catch on fire quickly is that they are too dry. Make sure your tree is properly hydrated and away from anything that could dry it out more quickly. For more information, check out Carolyn Forte&amp;#039;s tips for keeping a Christmas tree fresh. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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