Thanksgiving has come and gone and now it’s time to bring out the box of ornaments and strings of colorful blinking lights for Christmas.

Many people in and around Northern Virginia have already turned their homes into winter wonderlands with strands of lights, animated lawn ornaments and yards of garland. While you are decorating, you should do your best to prevent flammable displays.

Here are some tips from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue to keep your home safe from potential fire hazards:

Here are some safety tips from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department to ensure that we will not make an unplanned visit to your home this holiday season:

• Make sure your natural tree is a fresh one and once you get your fresh tree home, cut off one to two inches of the trunk and place it in a stable holder. You should keep the holder full of water, and the tree away from heat to keep your tree from drying out.
• Only use flame-proof decorations, and check the wiring on all your electrical decorations before you put them up.
• Avoid using extension cords to run your electrical decorations. Make sure your electrical decorations are tested and labeled.
• Never use real candles as part of your decorations.
• Don't use your fireplace as a disposal site for wrapping paper, boxes, or your tree.
• Keep an extra eye on friends and family members who smoke and make sure that ashes and lit cigarettes don't fall onto chairs, gifts, or wrapping paper.

Take an extra minute to ensure all your home fire safety devices are prepared for the holidays. Clean and test your smoke alarm and make sure your portable fire extinguisher is pressurized and not blocked by all the extra holiday packages.