Here’s some sobering facts from the National Fire Prevention Association: Between 2005-2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 240 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 13 deaths, 27 injuries, and $16.7 million in direct property damage annually. That’s a lot of unnecessary death, injury and damage for what is supposed to be a joyful season.
Did you watch the video? Yikes. That dry tree went up in , what, 30-40 seconds? That’s not a lot of time to react and get your family out safely. Imagine if that happened in the middle of the night?
We’ve been watching the news and there’s been several Christmas tree-related fires this year already, and although no deaths have been reported (that we’ve seen), there have been pets who did not make it out, and houses destroyed—unlivable for the holiday season.
How can you avoid this tragedy in your home? Here’s some tips to help you through the season, safely:
Christmas Trees
— Make sure, if you select an artificial tree, that it is flame-resistant.
— When selecting a live tree, find one that is fresh. Being green, having a sticky trunk and having needles that don’t bend, fall off or break easily are signs that a tree is fresh and less likely to pose a fire hazard.
— Trim a few inches off the bottom of the trunk to help it absorb more water and refill the tree stand with water regularly.
— Trees should not be set up in high-traffic areas or near fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters.
— Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious. On average, one of every 18 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death.
— A heat source too close to the Christmas tree started one of every five (20%) of these fires.
— Eighteen percent of home Christmas tree structure fires were intentionally set. Half of the intentional Christmas tree fires occurred in January and may have been related to disposal.
Holiday lights
— When hanging tree lights, always make sure that each bulb works and there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
— To avoid electrocution, electric lights should never be used on a metallic tree.
— When decorating with lights outside, check to make sure the lights have been certified for outdoor use.
— Hooks and insulated staples should be used to hold lights in place — not nails or tacks.
— All lights should be plugged into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
— Never leave lights on when you are not home because a short circuit could cause a fire.
— When it’s time to take lights down, don’t pull or tug on them.
Decorations
— Only flame-resistant materials should be hung on a tree.
— Choose only plastic or nonleaded tinsel or artificial icicles.
— Open flames, such as lighted candles, should not be placed near a tree or in an area where children can touch them or knock them over.
— Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable — especially if there are small children in the home.
— Decorations with small parts or those that look like real candy or food should also not be used near small children, who could swallow or choke on them.
— Wear gloves and follow directions carefully when using spun glass, known as “angel hair,” or fake snow sprays.
Wrappings
— All wrapping papers, bags, ribbons and bows should be removed from fireplace areas once gifts have been opened to avoid fire hazards.
Fireplaces
— Remove all greens and other decorations from fireplace area and be sure the flue is open before building a fire.
— Keep “fire salts,” which produce colored flames, away from children. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense stomach and intestinal irritation and vomiting if swallowed.
— Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace.
The moment you have a fire, please call us—we are here for you, 24/7; day or night; weekday, weekend or holiday. We do not want you out of your home during the holiday season any longer than you have to be. We are efficient, trained experts with state of the art equipment to restore your home within your budget.
Call now: (877) 732-8471