Christmas tree fire safety begins with selecting an appropriate tree. If the tree has been freshly cut, needles should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the trunk should be sticky to the touch. If you bounce the tree trunk on the ground and too many needles fall off, it is a sign that it has dried out and is a fire hazard.
Placement of the tree is extremely important. Trees should not be placed close to a heat source, including heat vents and fireplaces, since the heat will dry out the tree and make it more susceptible to ignition from heat, flame, or spark. Keeping the tree stand filled with water at all times is crucial as is not keeping a tree up for more than two weeks.
The last step in the fire safety process for Christmas trees is to dispose of the tree properly. When the tree becomes dry, it must be removed from the residence promptly. It is important to resist the temptation to place tree branches in a fireplace or wood stove.
A related holiday fire safety issue involves holiday lights. Only lights that are listed by an approved testing laboratory should be used. Before installing the lights it is important to inspect for excessive kinking or wear, frayed wires, gaps in insulation, bare spots, and cracked or broken sockets.
A major issue associated with holiday lights is the overloading of electrical circuits. No more than three sets of lights should be connected together unless directions indicate that it is safe to do so. The wiring of holiday lights should be checked periodically to make sure that it is not warm to the touch. Holiday lights should not be left on when unattended.
Holiday decorations also present fire safety challenges. As with live trees, holiday decorations should not be placed near sources of heat or flame, including heat vents and fireplaces. Only nonflammable or flame-retardant decorations should be used. Artificial trees should be flame-retardant.
After unwrapping holiday gifts, wrapping paper should be disposed of properly. It should never be placed in a fireplace since that can generate dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup.
Many holiday fires result from the unsafe use of candles. If you use candles, they should be properly secured in stable holders and placed such that they cannot easily be knocked over. Lit candles should never be put on or near a tree. It is important that candles be attended and never left burning when leaving a residence.
While the above suggestions are designed to prevent the type of holiday tragedies that we all too often see in the holiday season news coverage, the importance of having properly installed, maintained and tested working smoke detectors in the home cannot be overemphasized in the event a fire were to occur. Knowing how to call for help in the event of a fire or other emergency and having a home fire escape plan are also essential elements of a holiday fire safety plan, Fleming said.
Fleming has more than 36 years of fire and emergency preparedness experience. He currently serves as chairman of the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Fire Service Certification Advisory Committee, and the Chester County Local Emergency Planning Committee, as well as staff battalion chief of the Goshen Fire Company in Chester County, Pa.
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