Few holiday decorations are as popular as the Christmas Tree, but they also have the potential for danger, especially if you plan on buying and decorating a fresh tree. That’s why Christmas tree safety tips are so important.

According to the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA), “Christmas trees alone result in 13 million dollars, annually, in property damage.” Fortunately, the ACTA has plenty of tips to make sure your Christmas is merry, bright and safe for the whole family. Scroll below for six important Christmas tree safety tips.

• Make sure your tree is as fresh as possible

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  Potential freshness warning signs to look for in a Christmas tree is how vibrant the green needles are and how easy it is for the needles to be plucked from the tree.

• Always keep your tree watered

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  This is a common Christmas tree safety tip that most are aware of, but it can't be stressed enough. Always make sure your tree base has plenty of water to prevent your tree from drying out. A dry tree is more likely to catch on fire.

• Keep your tree away from any and all heat sources

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  Whether they're candles, heat vents or fireplaces, your tree should be far away from anything that could dry it out or cause a fire.
• Confirm all of your lights are safety tested

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  Per the ACTA, "Make sure all your indoor and outdoor Christmas lights have been tested in a lab by the UL or ETL/ITSNA for safety, and throw out any damaged lights."

• Turn off your Christmas tree lights before bedtime

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  Never leave your Christmas tree on overnight. This could lead to excessively drying out your tree, which could lead to a fire.

• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby

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  Hopefully, you'll never have to deal with a Christmas tree fire, but it never hurts to err on the side of caution and keep a fire extinguisher nearby just in case.

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