A fire official is reminding residents about Christmas tree safety during the holidays.
Erie’s Chief Fire Marshal Donald Sauer said people should check Christmas tree light wires to ensure they are not frayed or disconnected and never plug more than three strands of lights into a surge-protected power strip or extension cord.
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And if you have a real Christmas tree, Sauer recommends you water it every day.
He also reminds people to keep Christmas trees away from fabrics and exits.
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“You’re setting a Christmas tree in your living room, maybe you have a space heater in there or something like that, you want to make sure you move the space heater. You’re keeping it away from the couch, you’re keeping it away from anything else combustible, but now you’ve put a Christmas tree in that room,” said Sauer.
Another safety tip is to not leave holiday lights on unattended. It is recommended to turn the lights off if you are leaving your home or office.