Things You Should Do to Prevent Your Christmas Tree from Catching Fire

Holidays/ Celebrations

By: mikicagle     29-Nov-2010

Introduction:

My husband has been a firefighter for over 21 years and when I asked him what people can do to prevent their Christmas tree from catching on fire he was more than happy to create this list for me.

Don't Get Your Live Tree Too Early

Many people rush out and get their Christmas tree as soon as they see the Christmas tree lots pop up. This is a big mistake. The trees in those lots were cut at least 2-3 days prior which means they have been without water for that long. When you bring the tree into your house it is going to dry out further and those dry needles cause fires. If you can't wait to put a live tree into your home-try to go to a farm and cut it yourself that way you know exactly how long the needles have had to dry out.

Keep Your Tree Watered

If you have a live tree in your house make sure to keep it watered. Many people recommend adding sugar or seven up to the water-but I'm not sure if this helps or not. Also be sure to keep the tree away from heater vents or fire places. The closer to a heat source the quicker the needles will dry out.

Lights Lights and More Lights

Be sure that the lights you put on your tree are in good working condition. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting rid of light strands that are 5 years or older. If one of the bulbs is broken or damaged don't put it on the tree. It's much cheaper to replace a set of lights than it is to replace your entire home and possessions.

Keep Pets Away

Dogs and cats are notorious for chewing on the wires that connect light strands. One wrong nibble, one little spark, and one dry tree equal one HUGE problem. No matter what the creators of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation want you to think-a cat chewing on a strand of lights is not funny, it's dangerous.

Don't Overload Electrical Outlets

Electrical outlets are designed to safely handle a specific number of extension cords or light strands. Adding multiple splitters to a single outlet strains the receptical and could ultimately cause a power surge or spark that can create a fire. Keep your family safe and don't overload electrical outlets.





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