Live Christmas Tree and Safety

11/26/2019 (Permalink)

Even Santa looks for the perfect Christmas Tree

Fire Safety during the Holidays when a Real Tree decks the halls of your home…

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.  The safest option is to purchase a live tree and cut it down yourself.  If a pre-cut tree is purchased make sure you check the trunk for stickiness and the limbs for flexibility.  If the limbs break off easily it is not a good tree.

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.  Your tree needs to be a minimum of 3 feet from heat sources.  Christmas trees alone result in 13 million dollars, annually, in property damage.  Remember you tree will need care by providing water and not allowing the base to go dry.  Check the base frequently, especially if you have pets that like to visit the tree for a drink.

Lighting the tree is not always the easiest or most volunteered for project, but what a beautiful sight it is once they are strung.  To keep your live tree safe and fire proof make sure to not plug more than 3 strands of lights into each other.  Use a power strip to add additional strands. Be sure to turn the lights off when going to bed or leaving the house. 

Keep all of your holiday candles away from your tree.  Use electronic candles and non-flammable decorations.  If you have a fire place in your home use a fire screen and make sure the embers are extinguished before going to bed. 

When you home is filled with the joy pets bring there are precautions that need to be taken to keep them safe.  Make sure the tree can not be toppled over by the mischief pet pawing at the delicate ornaments that look ever so tasteful.  Loop twine or fishing line around the trunk and tie to a screw in the wall.  If there are cords on the floor they can be duct taped down to keep your pets from chewing on them.  Keep the needles cleaned up off the floor to keep your pets from licking them and possibly ingesting insecticides or flame retardants. 

What joy a live Christmas tree can bring and a tradition that has been long practiced.  With a few safety precautions to follow all can enjoy through out the Christmas holiday. Let the tree decorating begin!