Christmas Tree Safety Tips and Guidelines for a Joyful Holiday Season
Ensure a safe and merry Christmas by following these practical tips to prevent tree-related fires and hazards. Learn how to pick, place, decorate, and dispose of your tree responsibly to protect your home and loved ones during the festive season.
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A Safe Christmas Tree NMWG Safety Briefing Capt. Eran East Maj. John Graham 1 1
Whats the Problem? Approximately 400 fires occur annually involving trees. Fires result in $10 million in property loss Nearly one of every three home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems. Short-circuiting tree lights are cited as the leading cause A heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every four of the fires. Minimize extension cord use. Use power strips with circuit breakers Don t run cords under rugs. 2 2 Volunteers Serving America s Communities, Saving Lives, and Shaping Futures.
Picking the Tree Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Consider spray-on fire retardant Artificial trees have flame retardant but it wears off over time. Average lifetime is 6 years, but check Make sure tree is well secured to your vehicle when taking it home. 3 3 Volunteers Serving America s Communities, Saving Lives, and Shaping Futures.
Placing the Tree Before placing the tree in the stand, cut two inches 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, lighting. Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit. Add water to the tree stand. Check water daily. What's wrong with this picture? 4 4 Volunteers Serving America s Communities, Saving Lives, and Shaping Futures.
5 5 Volunteers Serving America s Communities, Saving Lives, and Shaping Futures.
Decorating Use lights listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use. Use pet- and child-safe ornaments. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read the manufacturer s instructions for the number of light strands to connect. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. Turn off tree lights before leaving home or going to bed. 6 6 Volunteers Serving America s Communities, Saving Lives, and Shaping Futures.
After Christmas Get rid of the tree after Christmas or when it is dry. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home. Find a recycling program (Santa Fe County: drop off at Franklin Miles Park or Buckman Road Recycling Station) Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer. Old or broken lights can be recycled at any SF County transfer station 7 7 Volunteers Serving America s Communities, Saving Lives, and Shaping Futures.
References Christmas tree fires can ruin holiday celebrations article from the Air Force Safety Center: https://www.safety.af.mil/News/Article- Display/Article/2865826/christmas-tree-fires-can-ruin-holiday- celebrations/ National Fire Prevention Association: https://www.nfpa.org/Public- Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Winter- holidays ehso.com (tree recycling) firesystems.net 8 8 Volunteers Serving America s Communities, Saving Lives, and Shaping Futures.
