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Have a SAFE Christmas!

Christmas Tree Safety

 Did you know that Christmas trees alone result in 13 million dollars, annually, in property damage? More importantly, these fires present real risk towards family and friends. When showcasing a live tree in your home, the combination of tree dryness, electrical malfunction with lights and poorly located heating sources can make for a deadly combination. Check out these tips to keep your tree lit up with lights, not a flame!

Candles, lights and decorations are an essential part of the holiday season, unfortunately, they also increase the risk of fire and injury."

Reduce the risk this year by following the Guidelines from the National Christmas Tree Association (yes! it's a real thing!):

  • Fresh trees are less likely to catch fire, so look for a tree with vibrant green needles that are hard to pluck and don’t break easily from its branches. The tree shouldn’t be shedding its needles readily.
  • Always place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights, and keep the tree base filled with water to avoid a dry out.
  • Make sure all your indoor and outdoor Christmas lights have been tested in a lab by the UL or ETL/ITSNA for safety, and throw out any damaged lights.
  • Any lights you use outdoors must be labeled suitable for exterior placement, and be sure to plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter protected receptacle.
  • Keep all your holiday candles away from your Christmas tree, surrounding furniture and décor.
  • Bedtime means lights off! ­ Don’t forget to turn your Christmas tree lights off each night.
  • Make sure an artificial tree is made of fire-resistant material.

DISPOSAL OF LIVE TREES

The longer it sits after the holidays, the drier it gets and the bigger fire hazard it becomes.

Never dispose of your tree by burning it. A burning Christmas tree is hard to control and may burn much faster than you expect it to burn. Burning Christmas tree clippings in a fireplace may result in a chimney fire. Pine and fir trees also produce a lot of creosote when burning, which can lead to deposits on the chimney that can cause fires later.

If you don't live in an area where you can dispose of your tree naturally, most cities and towns will collect Christmas trees curbside on designated days. Check with your local municipality for Christmas tree disposal instructions specific to where you live.

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