Dry Christmas trees a fire hazard
A small electrical spark can erupt a dry Christmas tree into flames. Video from the National Fire Protection Administration shows an entire room being engulfed in less than 35 seconds.
One Southland family may have paid the unimaginable price Tuesday night. Their twin, infant boys died of their injuries after a fire consumed their Los Angeles area home. The fire is believed to have been caused by their Christmas tree.
Eric Hauser, the battalion chief of the Cathedral City Fire Department, said the safest bet is to get it out of the house.
“If you have a real dried out Christmas tree it’s a fire hazard without a doubt, so that truly really needs to be removed from within the home,” Hauser told KESQ News Channel 3’s and CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner.
The NFPA said that while Christmas tree fires inside of a home are not common, when they do happen, they are much more deadly than other residential fires. On average, one of every 34 Christmas tree fires results in a death. That is compared with an average of one death per 142 total reported home fires.
The association recommends that trees be removed once they lose their fresh smell and their needles begin to fall.
Chris Cunningham, a recycling manager with Palm Springs Disposal Services, said disposing of the trees is easy.
“All we ask is that residents take off the ornaments, tinsel and anything else on the tree. Cut them into 4-foot lengths and place them next to the street.”
The NFPA reccomends not leaning the tree against the home as that is also a fire hazard. Most trash services will pick up old Christmas trees placed next to receptacles at the curb over the next couple of weeks.
