Holiday Season Fire Safety Advice

Fire Marshal Bill Halstead is offering the public some safety tips on the use of Christmas trees and electrical holiday decorations.

Before a natural Christmas tree is set up at a home, the tree’s trunk should be cut above the tree’s original cut line, then set into a tree stand and have some tap water added to the reservoir in the tree stand.

The new cut on the tree’s trunk allows the tree to absorb water to keep it fresh. The water level in the tree stand reservoir should be kept above the point where the tree is cut in order to prevent a sap seal from forming on the tree. The presence of a sap seal will prevent the tree from drawing water from the reservoir in the tree stand.

Christmas trees should be held upright in sturdy stands that have bases broad enough to support the trees. Guy wiring may be needed to support oversized trees.

Natural Christmas trees that have root balls should be moistened daily. Cut trees should be placed in stands that have reservoirs large enough to provide at least a one-day water supply. A one-gallon water reservoir is recommended.

Mr Halstead said natural Christmas trees should remain indoors only as along as they remain fresh. Because cut trees may absorb up a gallon of water daily, the water levels in tree stand reservoirs should be checked daily, with fresh water added, as needed.

Any Christmas trees that show evidence of drying out or severely shedding their needles should be removed from a home, he said.

Christmas trees and decorations should be located a safe distance away from sources of heat, including fireplaces, stoves, heaters, television sets, and candles.

The fire marshal urges that people never decorate their Christmas trees with candles due to the fire hazards posed by such situations. Candles should be kept well away from holiday decorations. Candles are a leading cause of structure fires in the United States.

Common causes of holiday accidents are overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires, according to Mr Halstead. Worn electrical cords and plugs should be replaced. People should avoid putting too many plugs into one outlet. Multi-outlet power strips should be used when many electrical items are in use.

Electrical lighting should be in good condition. That equipment should bear the label of a testing laboratory that examines such devices for safety and lists the devices for specific uses.

Lighting should be disconnected when an area is unattended, especially when people are asleep in residences.