Tips To Prevent Christmas Tree Fires
Christmas trees add to the festive holiday atmosphere, but they also cause about 260 fires, 12 fatalities and $16.5 million in damage each year in the United States. You can keep your family safe this holiday season if you take the necessary precautions.
The Riverside County Fire Department held a live Christmas tree burn demonstration to help raise awareness about the danger of Christmas trees. Specialists say that the fire safety begins long before the decorations are put up. “It begins with tree selection. First, when you’re choosing a tree, ensure that you’re choosing one that is as green as possible,” said RCFD Captain Mike Smith. “As soon as you get that tree home, cut the stump about an inch from the bottom, that allows the sap to dissipate, so it’ll actually draw water into the tree.”
A Christmas tree can remain relatively fire resistant if you follow these simple steps: -Recut the trunk -Keep the trunk in water -Clean the stand -Keep the tree away from sources of heat -Check the water level in the stand daily -Carefully control the lights on the tree -Remove the tree immediately after the holidays
Christmas trees are not the most hazardous decoration during the holiday season. “The most dangerous item in your home during the holiday season are candles. They cause approximately 45 percent of all structural or home fires during the holidays,” said Smith. “Second to that would be Christmas trees and about a third of those are caused by faulty electrical wiring.
