Okay, for this installment of Winter Weather Safety Lessons, we are going to focus on Christmas trees. I know, it is not really a winter weather issue, but if your home catches on fire in the next two weeks, your whole family is gonna be standing outside in the cold, so maybe it is.
I am a scrooge. Christmas is not my favorite holiday, so I put off the decorating as long as I can. Tonite I had to give in and put up a tree, and you can bet I put up the artificial kind. One of my very first fires as a new firefighter was to a beautiful home in Wisconsin that was fully engulfed on Christmas Eve. The family was standing in the cold watching their lives go up in smoke, literally. I have not had a real tree since.
Now I know that traditions run deep in some families and the thought of replacing that beautiful, sweet smelling tree with a WalMart special curdles the blood in some of you, I want to encourage you to go artificial. If you just can't do it, here are some holiday fire safety tips I picked up for you...
• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for one labeled “Fire Resistant.” Although
this label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
• Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches.
The needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out and is a fire hazard.
• Do not place the tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent.
The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for too long. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When
the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is to take it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instruction on how to use tree lights. Any string lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used. Never use electric lights on a metal tree.
• Unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree.
• If you use candles to decorate a room, make sure they are in stable holders and placed where they cannot be easily knocked over. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• All holiday decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and place away from heat vents.
• Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace; it can throw off dangerous sparks and produce intense flames that can cause a chimney fire.
If this is not enough for you, please take a minute to watch the video at this link.
