How to Prevent Christmas Tree Fires This Year

12/20/2023 (Permalink)

It only takes 10 minutes for an electrical spark to turn into a Christmas tree fire and devastate an entire room.  That's less than than it typically takes for the fire department to arrive to your home and start putting out a fire.  So here are some tips for having a live tree in your home.

1.  Make sure to check every day that the tree stand is full of water.  If it dries out, the base of the tree will harden and wont absorb enough water for the tree to stay health.  Water the tree every day.

2.  Keep all candles away from the tree.  Candles are the number one cause of holiday fires, not trees, but having a live tree in your home increases the chances of a fire spreading quickly.

3. Keep the tree away from fireplaces and heat sources.  It looks beautiful to have your tree next to the fireplace, but it's also the most dangerous.  Sparks can jump.  The tree is safer if it's more than 10 feet away.

4.  Check your lights every year to make sure the wires haven't been broken or chewed through.

5.  Remember that any cloth around the tree will catch fire just as fast as the tree, so try not to put it near curtains or blankets.

6.  Always have a full sized fire extinguisher and working smoke detectors, so you can stop the fire before it gets out of control.

If you follow these steps, you're setting yourself up for a very merry Christmas!