by Lin Gold


Christmas tree lots are popping up in their usual places, and cars are driving through the neighborhood with fresh, green trees strapped on top.  It heralds a festive season, and since we all want to keep it that way, it’s smart to take a minute and think about fire safety.  Although Christmas fires are not too common, it’s important to be aware that a live Christmas tree can become fully engulfed in flames in as little as 15 seconds, and rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.  Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to keep your home and family safe during the holidays.  Below are some great tips from the National Fire Protection Association and the Oklahoma University Police Department.

"Fresh Trees  - When selecting your tree, make sure to shake the tree vigorously, tap it on the ground, and watch for excessive loss of needles. If the tree loses a lot of needles, it’s already drying out, and a dry tree significantly increases the risk of the tree catching fire in your home. The trunk butt should be sticky with resin. Fresh trees should be green and the needles should be difficult to pull from the branches. Another good test is to take a single needle and bend it between your fingers. The needle should bend, not break.

Once you’ve selected a fresh tree and gotten it home, secure it in a sturdy stand and provide it with adequate water. At holiday time, many stores carry products designed to help you keep track of when your tree needs water. Keeping your tree well-watered will keep it supple so it retains its needles, making for less cleanup after the holidays and a lesser fire danger. Be sure to keep the stand filled with water because both cut and live trees dry out rapidly in heated rooms. Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or non-leaded metals."

"Artificial Trees - If you’re considering an artificial tree, the most important thing to look for is the “Fire Resistant” label. This means the tree has been treated with a chemical that makes it resist burning — It does not mean the tree can’t, or won’t, catch on fire. NEVER use electric lights on metallic trees — use spotlights for illumination. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

Greens —Evergreen (but NEVER cedar) cuttings may be used in limited quantities, but keep greens away from heat sources (radiators, air vents, large appliances, light receptacles, etc.) and don’t smoke near trees or greens. To be as safe as possible, greens/cuttings used for door adornment or for corridor/stairwell decorations (or really for use anywhere other than as a table centerpiece) should be flameproofed by flocking or other treatment."

(Resources - http://www.ou.edu/oupd/holtips.htm;
http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=296&URL=Safety%20Information/For%20consumers/Holidays/Christmas%20tree%20fires)