PRESS RELEASE
Christmas trees are a popular holiday decoration this time of year, but fire officials warn that Californians must take several steps to ensure they don’t become an increased fire hazard inside the home. In mere seconds, a fire can spark and quickly engulf a Christmas tree.
“Did you know that a dried out Christmas tree can become fully-engulfed in flames in a matter of three to five seconds, and in another 30-40 seconds everything in your room can be ablaze? A well hydrated tree, on the other hand, is very difficult to ignite,” states Unit Chief Kelly Keenan of the Amador-El Dorado Unit of CAL FIRE.
Christmas tree safety begins when you purchase your tree. When selecting a tree from a sales lot, do the “tap test” – lift the tree up and tap it on the ground. If any needles fall off, it’s already too dry and you should look for another tree. Cut trees can need as much as a gallon of water a day to help keep them from drying out too fast. Having your tree located too close to heat sources dries the tree quicker, making it a greater fire hazard.
“Christmas trees cause approximately 240 house fires each year in this country, resulting in $16.7 million dollars in direct property loss. Although these types of fires are not common, when they do occur they are costly and often deadly,” cautions Keenan. “Electrical problems caused one-third of these fires, so carefully check the wiring and lights, making sure the lights are UL-listed before placing them on the tree. Another 20 percent of these fires are caused by a heat source too close to the tree, so be sure your tree is not too close to your fireplace, woodstove, space heater or any other heat source.”
Life Saving Tips:
–Choose a fresh tree with green needles.
–If you purchase your tree from a lot or a local tree farm, make sure it is treated with a fire retardant before bringing it home. Make a fresh cut of one to two inches at the base of the tree trunk and place it in a bucket with plenty of cool, fresh water. A tree can drink a gallon or more in the first 24 hours.
–When choosing a location for your Christmas tree, make sure it is away from all heat sources, including your home heating system.
–Make sure your stand is the correct size for your tree and that it is clean before you place the tree inside it. A stand that is too small is prone to falling over.
–Once the tree is in the stand, water it DAILY! This will prevent the tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
–Make sure every string of lights is UL-listed and in good working order. Throw out any strings of lights that are damaged. If they feel warm after you plug them in they are NO good; throw them away.
–Do not overload your outlets. If you do not have enough outlets, use a good quality surge protector.
–ALWAYS turn off the trees lights when you leave home or go to sleep.
–Remove the tree immediately after the holidays. Even a properly cared for live tree will eventually die. Take it to a recycle center or leave for your refuse collector.
Also keep an eye on your furry friends around the Christmas tree this season. Whatever you do, don’t let this happen to you:
