But as we do these things, fire safety is rarely a thought. It may seem that the holidays and home fires are two completely different topics, but they’re not; national statistics show that the holiday season turns sorrowful, and sometimes even fatal for so many households each year as the result of home fires. Cooking, Christmas trees, candles and holiday lights – all key parts of the holiday season – are significant causes of fires that occur this time of year.

While it’s quite a somber perspective on the holiday season, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. With just one or two minor changes, often taking a few minutes, or even seconds, of time, the holidays can stay festive and safe for everybody. It’s important for people to take basic but vital fire safety precautions as they plan and prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

These simple steps can greatly reduce the risk of fire and its potentially devastating impact on homes and families:

Cooking: NFPA statistics show that unattended cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries. Stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling or broiling food. Most cooking fires involve the stovetop, so keep anything that can catch fire away from it, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even if it’s for a short period of time. If you’re simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. Create a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried.

Candles: Candles are widely used throughout the holidays, and December is the peak month for home candle fires. More than half of all candle fires start because the candle was too close to things that could catch fire. Consider using flameless candles, which look and smell like real candles. However, if you do use traditional candles, keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, and remember to blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed. Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over and are placed on uncluttered surfaces. Avoid using candles in the bedroom where two of five U.S. candle fires begin or other areas where people may fall asleep. Lastly, never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle.

Christmas trees: U.S. fire departments annually respond to 250 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Nearly half of them are caused by electrical problems, and one in four resulted from a heat source that’s too close to the tree.

Here are some guidelines for picking, placing and lighting a tree:

• If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.

• If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 1-2 inches from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily.

• Make sure your tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights.

• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.

• Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use.

• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.

• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.

• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.

• After Christmas, get rid of the tree. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside the home.

• Think green. Check to see if your community has a Christmas tree recycling program.

• Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

The holidays are a truly special time of year. Following these fire safety precautions and measures will ensure it remains one. For more tips, advice and information about holiday fire safety, please visit http://www.nfpa.org/holiday .

Judy Comoletti is the Division Manager of Public Education for the National Fire Protection Association, which has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, buildin, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s Web site at www.nfpa.org .

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Abbot Mine Road to the Colusa/Lake County line. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Pavement repair 0.2 mile north of Big Gulch Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Contractor – Rege Construction Inc. of Cloverdale.

– Construction of a retaining wall about three miles north of Elk will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– The City of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the Holiday Lights Parade between Madrone Avenue and Fir Avenue on Saturday, Dec. 12. Event hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A full road closure will be in effect. A detour will be available.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance about 0.7 mile south of Westport on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five5-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Comcast of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance about 0.3 mile east of Summer Lane on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Construction of a retaining wall 0.4 mile east of Three Chop Road will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 101

– Bridge deck repairs at the Cummings Road Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of French Camp.

Highway 128

– AT&T of Walnut Creek has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility relocation from 1.5 to 3.5 miles east of Mountain House Road. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

Santa Claus (here looking an awful lot like retired District 1 Supervisor Ed Robey) will be at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park on Saturday, December 12, 2009, to greet children and hear about their Christmas wishes. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE – The annual old-fashioned Christmas Open House at the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is this Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The park is located on Highway 53 between Lower Lake and the city of Clearlake.

Santa Claus will be on hand to greet children, Christmas music will be performed by local entertainers and free hot cider, coffee, and cookies will be provided.

The event is free and open to the public.

An old-fashioned Christmas tree will be on display in the parlor of the historical ranch house and a cozy fire will burn in the dining room.

The public is warmly invited to join with the volunteers of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association to celebrate this favorite holiday tradition.

24, and Friday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday.

The landfill will reopen Saturday, Dec. 26, and the Public Services Office will open on Monday, Dec. 28. Normal landfill operating hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Public Services office normal operational hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this subject or any of the solid waste issues in Lake County, please call 707-262-1760.

Lucerne Elementary teacher Tammy Saldana and her student, Hanna Jensen, who was selected as the winner of the inaugural Christmas tree decorating contest at the Harbor Village Artists complex on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. Photo courtesy of Linda Kelly.

LUCERNE – The Harbor Village Artists complex in Lucerne held its inaugural Christmas tree decorating contest for the Lucerne and Upper Lake students in kindergarten through third grade on Dec. 5.

Judge for the contest included Harbor Village representative Lynn Hughes, District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing and County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox, who had the difficult job of choosing a winner.

As stated by the judges, “All are winners,” but they felt that Hanna Jensen embraced the use of recycled materials.

Hanna’s winnings included a basket of art supplies and a monetary reward and her class and teacher, Tammy Saldana, received $25 to purchase art supplies.

Harbor Village would like to thank the students of Ms. Seymour, Ms. Saldana and Ms. Ewing from Lucerne Elementary and Ms. Callen and Ms. Villanueva from Upper Lake Elementary.

Hanna Jensen's winning ornament was a snowman she created from recycled materials. Photo courtesy of Linda Kelly.

From left, contest judges included Harbor Village representative Lynn Hughes, District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing and County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox. Photo courtesy of Linda Kelly.

The legislation included a provision authored by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) that will aid in the protection of thousands of acres of our nation’s shrinking agricultural lands and open space.

The provisions will allow landowners to get significant tax deductions if they place a conservation easement on their property.

These conservation easements allow property owners to continue using the land, while protecting the land from future development.

“Conservation easements make a big difference in our ability to preserve open spaces,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “Since we improved this tax incentive two years ago, 535,000 more acres were put into trusts – that’s a 50-percent increase. Today’s vote means these incentives will be in place for another year, and I’ve introduced legislation to make these provisions permanent.”

When landowners donate a conservation easement, they maintain ownership and management of the land and can pass the land on to their heirs, while forgoing their rights to develop the land in the future.

Conservation easements have historically been an effective tool for protecting farmland and open space. The tax provisions allow property owners to get a deduction of up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income for 15 years.

Congressman Thompson’s legislation to make these conservation easements permanent is H.R. 1831.

The bill currently has 262 cosponsors. This means the bill has the support of a majority of the House of Representatives – including majorities of both Democratic and Republican members.

Cosponsors are from every part of the country and from across the ideological spectrum, including a majority of both the Democratic and Republican members of the Ways and Means Committee.

The tax extenders package passed Wednesday by the House now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to be passed shortly and then signed into law by the president.