Christmas Tree Safety

By Jenny Johnston

Christmas is almost here which means it’s time to get out the tree and decorate the house. While decorating for the holidays can be lots of fun, it’s important to consider the fire and safety hazards. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 people, injure 1,650 more and cause over $990 million in damage. Here are some simple steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday.

Christmas Trees

• Display your tree in a safe spot. Keep your tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces or heat vents. Excessive heat dries up trees which puts them at a higher risk to catch on fire.
• Look for “Flame Retardant” on labels. If you don’t want to mess with a real tree, make sure an artificial tree has this written on the label. It doesn’t mean it won’t catch fire, but the tree will at least resist burning and extinguish quickly.
• Check the freshness of the tree. A tree is fresh if the trunk is sticky and the needles are green, hard to break and don’t easily fall off. Don’t forget to periodically fill the stand with water.
• Use fire-safe decorations. Don’t decorate your tree with live, burning candles. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. Opt for electrical lights, except on metallic trees.

Decorations

• Don’t overload electrical outlets. It’s easy to get carried away with extension cords and power sticks, and before you know it, every decoration is plugged into one socket. A single outlet shouldn’t support more than five plug-ins.
• Avoid using lit candles. If you do choose to use a fragrant burning candle, make sure they’re on a stable surface where they can’t be easily knocked over. Always blow them out before leaving the house or going to bed.
• Inspect light strands. Check for broken sockets, frayed wires or general wear. Use no more than three linked strands for a single extension cord.
• Don’t burn wrapping paper. It’s extremely flammable and can can result in an intense, flash fire.
• Safely arrange Christmas stockings. It’s recommended to only hang stockings when there isn’t a fire burning in the fireplace.