Christmas Decoration Hazards

12/11/2018 (Permalink)

A Christmas tree 17 seconds after catching on fire.

Now that the holidays are upon us, we will start getting ready by decorating the house! Some families go to the store and purchase a new, artificial tree, some take their artificial tree out of storage, and some run out and purchase a fresh, real tree. Whether the tree is real or artificial they both propose fire hazards. Before even bringing a tree home, there are steps to make sure the tree is going to be as safe as possible. If you have chosen an artificial tree, look for “fire resistant” or “flame retardant” on the labels. These phrases tell you the tree is less likely to catch on fire than artificial trees that are not advertising these phrases. While going out and searching for a live tree, you need to make sure the tree is not already dried-out. A dried-out tree will catch on fire much faster than any other kind of tree. To check if the tree is dried out give it a small shake and see how many needles fall out. A well-watered tree will have a few needles fall out, but a dried-out tree will have many needles fall out. Once you have chosen a real tree, you will need to keep the tree watered. There are stands that are made specifically to hold water. Experts say to check every day on the amount of water in the stand. A video has gone viral of a tree that isn’t watered catching fire and burning down within seconds. The watered tree takes a few minutes to fully catch aflame. So, remember when you are picking out a tree to do your research and keep your home as safe as possible this holiday season!