How to Prevent a Christmas Tree Fire from Setting Your Holidays up in Flames-Part II
The holiday season is upon us once again, and it seems like just yesterday that we were barbecuing in the back yard for Memorial Day and watching fireworks on the 4th of July. Now, it’s time to pull out the artificial Christmas tree from underneath the stairs in the basement, and prepare for coming face-to-face with the in-laws once again, as they make comments on how dry the ham is or why your children are not in matching sweaters. However, while many people decorate their homes with artificial Christmas trees, over 30 million people will go out and purchase a real one.
If you are among the millions of people who make their way to a Christmas farm during the holiday season, then it is important to learn the safety measures and what precautions to take to avoid a Christmas tree fire. Over 35% of Christmas tree fires start in either the living room or family room, and are the cause in over 200 fires per year, so while you may be fuming at your in-laws or burning the gingerbread cookies, you do not want to add any more heat to your home.
How to Prevent a Christmas Tree Fire
You have grabbed your family or significant other, or even dog, and have made your way to a Christmas tree farm to find the perfect tree for your house. The tree is lushly green, voluminous and would make a great addition to the family room near the fireplace and windows. However, what many people neglect to realize is that the location of their Christmas tree is essential to avoiding a protentional fire. According to the American Christmas Tree Association, real Christmas trees result in over 10 million dollars’ worth of property damage annually, directly resulting from a fire. To help prevent your Christmas tree from catching fire, remember to:
- Never place your Christmas tree near a heat source (i.e. fireplace, heat vents candles or radiators). Trees should be placed approximately three feet away from heat sources.
- Never use real candles to decorate a Christmas tree.
- Replace any string of lights that is worn-down or broken, or has a broken lightbulb.
- Never use a string of lights that has exposed wiring.
- Use lights that are laboratory tested by the UL, ETL or ITSNA.
- Add an adequate amount of water to the tree stand daily.
- Ensure the tree does not block an exit of the building.
Visit the American Christmas Tree Association to learn more about preventative safety measures for your Christmas tree.
Emergency Service Contact for Fire Damage
Soil-Away knows the value of family, as we are a family-owned and operated business. Let us take the stress away from you this holiday season, by contacting the restoration experts at 603-641-6555, in the event of unexpected damage. We know the importance of fire damage cleanup, mold remediation and water damage restoration services, and want to keep you and your family safe and happy at any time of the year. Whether it is a puff back in Bedford or mold removal project in Londonderry, we are here for you!
Stay tuned for Part III of this three-part series on how to keep your holidays safe this year!
Written by: K. Gnatowski
