WHEELING — For those who choose to decorate their home or business with a real tree this holiday season, whether it’s transporting the tree or maintaining it inside your home, local and national officials urge safety.

As AAA officials ask drivers to safely secure their holiday trees before transporting them, local and national fire safety officials remind the public to also take the proper fire safety precautions throughout the holiday season.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than one of every four home holiday tree fires is caused by electrical problems.

Wheeling Fire Department Capt. Deric Jamison said there are a number of safety precautions to keep in mind if you decide to use a real Christmas tree or candles over the holidays.

Jamison is quick to point out that dried-out trees present a fire danger — it’s recommended to begin by buying a freshly cut tree with green needles that do not fall off when touched. He said it is also a good idea to make another two-inch fresh cut to the base of the trunk right before you put the tree in the stand because sap from the tree can quickly cover the initial cut area which can hinder water intake by the tree.

“So just before you place the tree in the stand with water, that’s when you want to take at least two inches off the trunk of the tree,” he explained. “That will help the tree take up water and not dry out as quick,” he added.

In addition, Jamison said to make sure you keep the tree away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, heat vents, candles, or hot lights — as they could cause it to dry out faster or catch fire. He is quick to point out that a real tree will take up the most water the first week it is displayed in your home. He said real trees can take up to a quart of water a day for every inch of tree trunk width.

According to the NFPA, other advisories with real Christmas trees include: replacing any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections, use lights that have the label of a recognized/reputable testing laboratory, never use lit candles to decorate the tree, make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, and always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Jamison is also quick to point out that Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are the top three days across the U.S. for candle fires.

“You want to be very mindful of your candles, you want to keep them at least one foot away from anything that will burn. Be mindful not to set them under your cabinets,” he added. In addition, Jamison said to have working smoke detectors properly installed around your home.

“Smoke detectors are always a must. You’re twice as likely to survive if you have working smoke detectors in the house,” Jamison explained.

In addition to fire safety guidelines with Christmas trees, AAA officials urges drivers to safely secure holiday trees, as research from AAA shows loose trees present dangers to and expense to motorists.

As Americans head to farms, retail stores, and local tree lots to find a real tree this holiday season, AAA East Central of Pittsburgh urges motorists to make sure they are safely securing their trees during transport to keep them from becoming dangerous projectiles.

“There is no question that a real tree can add something special to your home during the holidays, but motorists need to transport them safely,” said JJ Miller, safety advisor, AAA East Central. “Not only could you be putting other lives at risk, you could be setting yourself up for costly repairs to your own vehicle,” Miller added.

Some tips AAA recommends for transporting your holiday tree include:

Use the right vehicle. It’s best to transport a holiday tree on top of a vehicle equipped with a roof rack. However, if you do not have a roof rack, use the bed of a pickup truck, or an SUV, van or minivan that can fit the tree inside with all doors closed.

Use quality tie downs to secure the tree. Bring strong rope or nylon ratchet straps to secure the tree to your vehicle’s roof rack. Avoid the lightweight twine offered by many tree lots. Have the tree wrapped in netting before loading it. If netting is unavailable, secure loose branches with rope or twine. Secure the tree at its bottom, center and top.

Protect your vehicle. Use an old blanket to prevent paint scratches and protect the vehicle finish.

Point the trunk towards the front. Always place the tree on a roof rack or in a pickup bed with the bottom of the trunk facing the front of the vehicle.

Give it the tug test. Before you leave the lot, give the tree several strong tugs from various directions to make sure it is secured in place and will not blow away.

Drive slowly and easily. Take the back roads, if possible. Higher speeds create significant airflow that can damage your holiday tree and challenge even the best tie-down methods.