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Dec 11, 2008 6:37 pm US/Eastern
Christmas Tree Fire Hazards-What You Need To Know
CLICK HERE For Fast Facts: Holiday Fire Safety Tips
DORAL (CBS4) ―
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A Christmas tree and furniture burn during a Consumer Product Safety Commission safety demonstration Dec. 5, 1995.
AP
The holiday season is a time to deck the halls and trim the tree, but unless you are careful, the season could be a memorable one for the wrong reasons. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue held a Christmas tree safety demonstration on Thursday to showcase the potential hazards that Christmas trees can pose.
Lt. Arnold Pedriahita recommends applying some type of commercial-grade retardant to a tree as well as keeping them constantly watered.
It's suggested to keep trees at least three feet away from furniture and curtains, and every home should always have a working smoke alarm. Candles and electric lights should be out before going to bed.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur they are likely to be serious. From 2002 - 2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 210 home structure fires that began with Christmas trees; 59-percent of these fires occurred in December and 24-percent occurred in January.
On average, one of every 15 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death.
"FAST FACTS: Holiday Fire Safety Tips"
Here are some other Christmas tree safety tips:
- When buying a tree, make sure its fresh. Needles should be soft not brittle
- Only use lights listed by a testing laboratory
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree lights
- Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed
- Never use lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections
- Never use lit candles near trees
- Water trees daily to keep them moist
- If you have an artificial tree, make sure it is fire-retardant
- Always watch children when they are around the tree
- Position trees near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances
- Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house
More information can be found on the National Fire Protection Association website:
www.nfpa.org.
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