The New Rochelle fire chief is offering tips this holiday season on how to keep your home safe with a Christmas tree.

New Rochelle Fire Chief Louis DiMeglio says that carefully decorating Christmas trees can help make the holidays safer. He says it is important to keep fresh-cut trees away from heaters, furnaces or fireplaces.

DiMeglio says there are other ways to avoid a disaster. "If you have a live tree, you [should] cut an inch or two [off] the bottom, and keep it well watered in the stand. Keep it watered at all times."

The chief also says to replace strings of lights that are worn or broken, never use lit candles around the tree, and always turn off tree lights before going to bed.

DiMeglio says even a small fire can spread throughout a living room in just seconds.