Thanksgiving is behind us and, if you haven't already, many are ready to pull out those holiday decorations. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, indeed, but it's also time to exercise common sense to ensure the holidays don’t end up tragically.

One-third of Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems. It's best to use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets.

Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. And when purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “fire resistant.” When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. Run your hand on the branches. If needles fall o

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