The Hicksville Fire Department and the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs offer the following holiday season fire prevention safety tips:

Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches. Needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out and is a fire hazard.

Set your tree up in a safe area that is located away from all heat sources. Do not place the tree near a fireplace or heating vent because the heat will dry out the tree. If there are smokers in the house, do not allow them to smoke near the tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

As soon as the tree becomes dry, it needs to be disposed of promptly. If your community uses a recycling service, this is the best way to dispose of the tree. Otherwise, have the tree hauled away by your waste hauler. Never put the tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

If you opt for an artificial tree, make sure that the tree has a fire retardant label. If the tree is metal or aluminum, do not us any lights or electrical products to decorate them. Metal is a good conductor of electricity.

Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only indoor lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. Unplug all decorative lighting before going to bed or leaving the house.

Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory and marked for outdoor use. Turn off electricity to the supply outlet before working with outdoor wiring. Run all outdoor cords above ground, keeping them out of puddles and snow. To prevent moisture from entering bulb sockets, turn the bulbs to face the ground.

Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.

All decoration should be nonflammable or flame retardant and placed away from heat vents. Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace as it can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.

Avoid using lit candles. If you must use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they can not easily be knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.

Have working smoke detectors installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times.

Know when and how to call for help. Keep fire department, police, ambulance, doctor and other emergency service numbers posted on or near your telephone. Keep a UL listed multi-purpose fire extinguisher in your kitchen when preparing holiday meals and know how to use it. Remember to practice your home escape plan so that all are familiar with it in the event of an emergency.

Don't empty ashtrays in trash containers immediately following a party. Let ashtrays sit in one place overnight. Empty the following day or douse all ashtrays in water before you empty them. Keep holiday trash away from your home. Stow it in metal containers a safe distance from any building in case of flare-up. Before you retire, make a check of seat cushions for possible smoldering cigars or cigarettes. The leading cause of holiday fires has been traced to fire smoldering in chairs and couches.

These safety tips have been prepared by the United States Fire Administration and can help you and your family avoid the devastation that a fire can bring. Following these simple rules will greatly reduce tragic residential fires and loss of life.

Happy Holidays.

- Owen Magee