Holiday lighting safety tips

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company is reminding customers to keep a vigilant eye on safety. Every season people are injured while hanging lights or in fires caused by lights or candles.
To help prevent these types of accidents from happening, PG&E offers the following safety tips:
• Do not place your tree near the fireplace or heat vents. That will dry out the tree, making it more susceptible to fires caused by heat, flame or sparks.
• Use LED holiday lights. They are shatterproof and shock resistant. They are safe to touch and greatly reduce the risk of fire. They are also more energy efficient and can last up to 20 holiday seasons.
• Don’t place power cords under rugs, furniture, or other appliances; if covered, they can overheat or become frayed and can cause a fire. And route cords so they won’t trip anyone.
• Follow the manufacturer’s limits for the number of light strings that can be connected together safely.
• Always turn off tree and decorative lights—indoors and outdoors—when leaving the house and before going to bed.
• Make sure lights used outside are approved for outdoor use. Never use indoor lights outdoors.
• Look up! Before stringing outdoor lights or raising ladders, check for overhead power lines. Don’t place yourself or any object where there might be contact with a power line—the result can be fatal.
For more information, visit www.pge.com.