The holiday season couldn’t be complete without holiday lights, but they should be used with caution. Holiday lights pose a risk of fire and other accidents if not used safely.  Here are some key holiday lights safety tips every homeowner should following "decking the halls". Christmas Lights Only Christmas tree lights that are rated for indoor use and tested for safety should be used. The lights must have the label of an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). Electric lights should never be put on metallic Christmas trees to avoid the risk of electric shock. Each set of lights should be checked for worn or broken cords, broken or cracked sockets, and loose bulb connections. Damaged lights must be replaced. No more than three standard-size sets of lights should be connected into an extension cord. Instead of overloading electrical outlets or extension cords, lights should be plugged into different circuits around the...

When hosting outdoor parties in the backyard, safety should be the top priority, especially when using open flames for lighting or ambiance. Fire sources such as candles, portable outdoor fireplaces, sky lanterns, patio (tiki) torches and fire pits can start a fire if they’re not used carefully.  Here are some practical tips to prevent fires during outdoor parties: If there are children and pets at the party, they should always be supervised and kept at least 1 meter away from open flames. If the scene is decorated with burning candles, they must be kept in sturdy candle holders to help prevent candles from being tipped over. More than half of all candle fires start when objects that can burn are too close to candles. Flammable objects should be kept far away from candles and any other open flame. We strongly recommend using battery-operated flameless candles and patio torches instead of their more dangerous, open-flame counterparts. An adult must always supervise portab...