Avoiding Christmas Tree Fires

The rapid nature of Christmas tree fires makes escaping a fire difficult. For that reason, taking precautions when choosing and decorating a tree becomes extremely important.

Here are a few tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

1. Give live Christmas trees a fresh cut. Always choose a freshly cut Christmas tree so it will absorb water and stay fresher longer. Sap flows out of trees, so without a fresh cut at the bottom, water up-take might not be as good.
2. Water your tree daily. Constant watering keeps trees fresher longer, but the moment the tree appears to drop its needles, it’s a sign that it is drying out.
3. Use approved lights and connect them properly. Choose lights tested by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Avoid connecting multiple extension cords and more than three strands of lights.
4. Inspect lights and decorations. Before decorating your tree, lay out strings of lights and look for any broken or missing lights. Needles can get stuck in empty light sockets, creating a potential fire hazard. Electric energy passes through the bulb sockets and can cause needles to ignite.
5. Toss damaged lights and decorations. Don’t attempt to repair light strings if they are worn, frayed or show other problems. Throw them away and buy a new set of lights.
6. Choose your tree’s location carefully. Place the tree away from stairs, where fire can quickly travel to bedrooms. Avoid placing it near heat sources, such as a wood stove or fireplace. Being close to radiators and heat vents can more quickly dry out a tree.
7. Avoid using candles near the tree. In a quarter of Christmas tree fires measured by the National Fire Protection Association, a candle or other heat source was too close to the tree.
8. Avoid combustible ornaments. Pinecones and other ornaments can add fuel to a Christmas tree fire and should be avoided.
9. Keep pets safe. Pets can chew, paw and otherwise damage lights and potentially knock over the tree.
10. Unplug at night. Never leave the tree plugged in when you are away from home or asleep.
11. Close bedrooms doors. Closing your bedroom doors at night can keep out harmful smoke and flames in the event of a Christmas tree fire, giving you more time to escape.
12. Test smoke alarms. Make sure smoke alarms are properly located and in working order.