A demonstration showing how flammable a dry Christmas tree can be as opposed to a tree watered regularly. Here are some guidelines from the National Fire Protection Association to decrease the chances of indoor tree fires during the holidays: Picking the tree • If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant. • Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Placing the tree • Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1” - 2” from the base of the trunk. • Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights. • Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit. • Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily. Lighting the tree • Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. • Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of LED strands to connect. • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed. According to the Alameda County Fire website: • A heat source near a Christmas tree causes 1 in 6 fires • 2 out of 5 holiday decoration fires are caused by candles • 1 out of 40 Christmas tree fires resulted in a death The United States Fire Administration says over 900 people die annually in winter home fires. Alameda County Fire officials recommend taking steps to prevent fires. • Do not connect more than 3 strands of mini-lights together at once. • Keep the tree at least 3 feet away from heat sources. • Candles need to be at least 12 inches from anything that could burn. • Dispose of the tree immediately after the holiday.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 19:27:09 +0000
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