With Thanksgiving come and gone, Christmas trees can be seen through the picture windows of area homes. The Stuart Fire Department wants to make sure those who plan on placing one of their own take precautionary measures to avoid a fire hazard. The department echoes the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) with some tips when picking out and setting up a real Christmas tree to prevent fires from happening.

When picking a live tree, choose one with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Trees should be cut two inches from the base of the trunk and watered daily. They should not block an exit and should be at least three-feet away from any heat source. According to NFPA, a heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every four tree-related fires. When lighting the tree, always make sure to use lights manufactured for indoor-use, replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections, and turn off the lights before leaving the home or going to bed. See the graphic below for more tips: