Holiday Safety: Trees and Lights Can Pose a Danger

Dec. 23, 2009— -- Three members of the New York City Fire Department stopped by the "Good Morning America" Times Square studio to participate in the Warm Coats and Warm Hearts coat drive.

While they were here, FDNY Lt. Anthony Mancuso and Firefighters Eddie Long and Hisham Tawfiq -- all of the FDNY's Engine 69 in Harlem -- shared fire safety tips that will be especially useful for the winter holidays, when fire risk typically increases.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, every year fire departments across the nation respond to an average of 250 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Nearly half the blazes are caused by electrical problems, and one in four resulted from a heat source that was too close to the tree.

The firefighters offered these tips:

Here are some other tips from the NFPA:

Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, and is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights.