Fire prevention tips for the holiday season [Video]

DAWSON CREEK –It’s the time of year when lights are hung, trees are lit, and chestnuts are roasting. Although they are all festive, they are all also fire hazards.

“In Canada every year there’s roughly 200 fires that involve Christmas trees. One-third of those fires involve electrical components that light the trees on fire,” shares Dawson Creek Fire Chief Marcel Capelle.

There are ways to take precautions against these fire risks. Experts suggest picking a green tree, not a dry one with needles falling off, which is a more combustible tree. They also suggest cutting off two inches from the bottom of the tree and letting it soak up water.

“You don’t want any heating hazards, heat sources around it so kind of keep it at a three-foot radius. You don’t want to put it near your fireplace, heat candles,” says Chief Cappell.

Experts say Christmas lights are the …