Celebrate Safely This Season - Holiday Fire Safety Tips

By City of Hollywood

Dec 17, 2025

The Holiday Season Brings Plenty Of Cheer, From Festive Decorations And Sparkling Lights To Candles And Cozy Gatherings At Home. While Decorating Is Part Of The Fun, It Can Also Increase The Risk Of A House Fire If Some Precautions Are Overlooked. Here Are Some Preparations The Department Of Fire Rescue & Beach Safety Encourages Residents To Have At The Top Of Mind To Keep The Season Merry And Bright.

Use Candles with Care

Candles add warmth and ambiance, but they are also a leading cause of home decoration fires in December, with Christmas Day seeing the highest number of incidents. Consider using battery-operated flameless candles whenever possible. If you do use real candles, keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn and never leave them unattended. Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.

Light Up Responsibly

Before hanging holiday lights, inspect them for frayed wires, cracked sockets, or broken bulbs. Damaged strands should be replaced right away. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how many strands can safely be connected and avoid overloading outlets. Turn off holiday lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving the house. Using a timer can make this easy and help reduce electrical risks.

Keep Trees Fire Safe

A dry Christmas tree can ignite quickly and burn intensely. Keep both natural and artificial trees at least three feet away from candles, cooking appliances, electronics, and other heat sources. Make sure your tree does not block doorways or exits. More than one in five Christmas tree fires are caused by a heat source placed too close. If you have a real tree, water it daily and dispose of it promptly after the holidays or once it becomes dry. Tree recycling locations in Hollywood are listed below.

Be Smart Around Heat Sources

Even in South Florida, homes often use candles, fireplaces, grills or warming appliances during the holidays. Never use outdoor grills or fire pits indoors, and keep decorative items well away from stovetops and ovens during holiday cooking. After enjoying a fire feature or cooking for guests, double-check that everything is fully turned off before heading to bed.

For more information on preventing winter and holiday fires, visit: www.usfa.fema.gov/holiday - And: www.nfpa.org/winter. A few simple steps can help keep your home and family safe throughout the holiday season.

Tree Safety: A dry Christmas tree can burn very hot and very fast. Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents. Also, make sure your tree does not block exits. More than one in every five Christmas tree fires were caused by a heat source too close to the tree. Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it is dry. (See below for tree recycling locations in Hollywood).

For more information on how to prevent winter fires, visit: www.nfpa.org/winter.

Chip-a-Tree

After the holidays, Broward County Parks & Recreation is offering the annual Chip-a-Tree tree recycling program, where you can bring your tree to one of multiple Broward County parks to be recycled for free.

Hollywood Location: West Lake Park, 1200 Sheridan Street: (954) 357-5161.

This season's program runs daily from Friday, December 26th, 2025, through Monday, January 19th, 2026. Hours vary; call the park of your choice for details. For additional information, visit: www.broward.org/Parks/Pages/ChipATreeProgram.aspx.

Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk - Saturday, December 20th

Visit restaurants, galleries, and shops, while enjoying art, music, murals, outdoor markets, and more!

• Artisan Market, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

• DJ, 6:00 p.m.

• Karaoke, 6:30 p.m.

• Live Music, 8:00 p.m.

• Mural Tour, 6:00 p.m.

• Gallery Tour, 7:00 p.m.

• Magic Show, 9:00 p.m.

For more information, visit: https://www.hollywoodcra.org/312/Downtown-Hollywood-ArtWalk

If you have a real tree, water it daily.