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Holidays Fire Safety - part 1

By Jonathan Meyer
Published: December 20, 2006

Ensuring your family a safe and happy holiday is simple as most damages can be reduced and even prevented by following a few simple precautionary steps.

Selecting a Christmas Tree

If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant. However, choosing a fresh tree requires more attention. If you choose to buy a fresh tree, you will have to check it first to confirm it is really fresh. Fresh trees are not dry, therefore more fire resistant compared to trees that have been cut a while ago and are dry and much more flammable.

As you check you tree, start with the trunk. The trunk should be sticky to touch. Then, move on to the needles. Needles on a fresh tree should not be broken easily and are green and hard to pull back from the branches. Another good test is to bounce the trunk on the ground. If the tree is fresh, not many needles will fall off.

It is also recommended to purchase the tree on time. You do not want to put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks.

Caring for Your Tree

Once selected and brought home, your tree is a potential fire hazard. Treat it with care to minimize the risk. Place your tree in a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over and water it daily to keep it as moist as possible.

The most important aspect of a Christmas tree fire safety is its position. Place your tree at least three feet away from heat sources such as fire places, electric heaters, and heat vents. By doing so, you reduce the chance that your tree will catch fire from a park or an open fire source such as the fire place. In addition, placing a tree close to heat sources will cause it to dry and become more flammable.

Try to place the tree as close to an outlet as possible so that cords are not running long distances.

Recommended Reading
Holidays Fire Safety - part 2

This article focused on the safety measurement, required when decoration and lighting your Christmas tree. Follow these steps to ensure you and your family a happy and safe holiday.

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