Christmas Tree Fire Safety

The holiday season is finally here, which means many decorate their homes and put up their Christmas trees. When filling your tree with ornaments and lights, it is important to be aware of the fire hazard it may impose. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, research suggests approximately 160 fires a year are due to Christmas trees. In this blog, we will provide Christmas tree fire safety tips so your home can be protected this holiday season!

Picking Out A Christmas Tree

While it is important to pick the most picture perfect tree for your home, you should also choose a tree with fire safety tips in mind.

Live Trees: Select a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. To test this, bounce the tree trunk on the ground and watch if needles fall off. If many do, the tree has dried out and could be a bigger fire hazard. Before cutting down your tree, it should be cut 2 inches from the base of the trunk.

Artificial Tree: If you use an artificial tree each season, ensure it is labeled and certified by the manufacturer as a fire retardant.

Placing A Christmas Tree

Once you have chosen the perfect tree, it is important to place it correctly in your home. Both live and artificial trees should be at least 3 feet away from any heat source, such as a fireplace or heat vents. Your tree should never be blocking an exit incase of a fire!

Lighting A Christmas Tree

Lights are one of the main causes of Christmas tree fires, which is why you should be aware of the lights your home uses. Ensure to use proper lights, because some are only meant for inside and outside use. When placing lights on your tree, replace strings with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Additionally, your home should only use lights tested by an independent testing laboratory.

Protect Your Home With These Tips!

Whether you cut down your tree from Greenbrier Farms or pull your tree from the attic, both can cause a fire. Christmas tree fires can occur due to many reasons, such as lights, candles, fireplaces, and other heat sources. Below are 4 tips to protect your home from a Christmas tree fire.

• Remember To Turn Off Your Tree
• Keep The Tree Watered
• Avoid Overloaded Electrical Circuits
• Properly Dispose Of Your Tree

Remember To Turn Off Your Tree

There are only 25 days of Christmas, which means many try to soak in the holiday magic every second. However, your Christmas tree should only be lit when you are there to enjoy it. Leaving on your Christmas tree lights at night or when you leave the house can be a fire hazard and threaten your safety. Also, turning off your Christmas tree every once and a while will save on electric bills!

Keep The Tree Watered

Dry Christmas trees are more of a fire hazard when compared to fresh ones. If you use a live Christmas tree, ensure it is constantly in water. A general rule of thumb is a 6-foot Christmas tree requires at least one gallon of water each day. To maintain a pretty, live tree and maintain your safety, water your tree daily!

Avoid Overloaded Electrical Circuits

Christmas lights are an important part of your tree, but make sure your electrical circuit is not overloaded. We recommend attaching three maximum strings of lights to one extension cord. To further protect you and your home, plug your Christmas lights into surge-protected power strips rather than outlets. Our expert technicians can help ensure your electrical outlets are prepared for your beautifully lit home and Christmas tree!

Properly Dispose Of Your Tree

When your tree dries out, it is time to get rid of it. Dried out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in your home, garage, or placed outside. Additionally, burning your Christmas tree yourself can be unsafe. If you use waste management in Chesapeake, simply set your tree on your curb for trash day and they will dispose of it for you.

The holiday season is a time to spend with family, friends, and loved ones and the last thing on your mind should be if your tree will cause a fire. Consider these Christmas tree fire safety tips to ensure your holiday season runs smoothly and safely!