The office of the State Fire Marshal has issued suggestions to prevent fires this holiday season.

Tips include testing smoke alarms and making sure they work, looking for flame-resistant artificial Christmas trees, and keeping them at least three feet away from heat sources. Never leave burning candles unattended, and use flashlights or battery-powered lamps in a power outage instead of candles.

Other tips include inspecting holiday lights for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, or broken sockets, not linking more than three strands of lights, and unplugging decorative lights when leaving home. In addition, it is suggested to have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional every year, and to remember to turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.