Five ways to prevent winter home fires

Yvette Urrea Moe

County of San Diego Communications Office

The winter holidays can be bright, wonderful, and cozy, but you need to be sure to take fire-safe measures.

Holiday decorations, including Christmas trees, were the cause of an average of 790 winter fires per year across the country between 2015 and 2019, according to the National Fire Protection Association. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian death, 26 civilian injuries, and $13 million in direct property damage. 

The San Diego County Fire Protection District offers the following safety guidance:

1) Keep your tree at...