In order to keep from decking the halls with a fire extinguisher, be sure to follow safety protocols recommended by emergency services and local electricians.

Electricians sometimes encounter people with a tragic misunderstanding of electricity and set themselves up for a holiday disaster.

Joel Amos, vice president of Amos Electric Supplies, said that there are many problems with Christmas lights and many stem from bad choices on the part of the decorator. Modern lights are designed to keep people from having too many strings of lights to be plugged in end to end.

However, homeowners can still overload sockets, causing damage to fuse boxes. If enough current is passed through faulty or old wires they will melt - causing short circuits, sparks and fire.

The problems Amos encounters most often are fried fuses from outdoor lighting gone wrong. People will use a lightweight household extension cord in high-traffic areas like driveways that are worn down to the point that a slight rain or heavy dew can cause a short-circuit and cause damage to electrical systems.

Mike Muhlman, vice president of Mr. Electric Expert Electrical Service, recommends putting plastic bags around outdoor connections to protect it from rain and make sure that all wires and lights are designed for outdoor use.

Muhlman said he has seen some really horrific displays of Christmas lights over the years. He has seen people stick pieces of metal in place of fuses to keep their light shows going, even if it means melting wires and electrical sparks.

If two parts of the wire touch each other it will cause a short-circuit and emit sparks or small flames.

Muhlman said that he visited a family this year that couldn