SW New Mexico News

More residential fires occur during the holiday season than at any other time of the year. In response, the Las Cruces Fire Department has shared a set of guidelines to help residents ensure a safe holiday.

For those purchasing cut Christmas trees, it's advised to choose a freshly cut tree with green needles and a sticky trunk. A dry tree poses a fire risk, so if needles fall off easily, it should be avoided. Trees should not be placed near heat sources like fireplaces or heater vents and should always have water in their stands.

Disposing of trees by burning them in fireplaces or wood-burning stoves is discouraged. Instead, trees should be taken to recycling centers or collected by community pick-up services.

Holiday lights need careful inspection for frayed wires or broken sockets before use. Caution is advised when using lights with heat-generating bulbs as they can dry out trees and wood trims, increasing fire hazards. Electrical outlets should not be overloaded; most can handle only three light strands. Warm wiring indicates an overload.

It's important to unplug holiday lights and extinguish candles before leaving home. Decorations used should be non-flammable or flame-retardant and kept away from heat sources. Burning wrapping paper is unsafe due to potential sparks and chemical buildup that could cause explosions.

Metallic or artificial Christmas trees must be flame retardant, and pre-wired lights on these trees require inspection similar to other holiday decorations.

Candles need secure holders that cannot tip over, and lighted candles should never be placed near combustible items like trees.

The Las Cruces Fire Department also advises residents to ensure smoke detectors are functional on every floor and near bedrooms, with batteries replaced every six months.