|
Christmas
trees need close watch
As I
get older, time sure seems to fly. It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is
over and the Christmas season is in full swing.
Many people are already decorating their homes and Christmas trees
preparing for their favorite holiday of the year. It seems that the Christmas
tree is the focal point of the holiday decorations in most homes, and people
put a great deal of effort and ima gination into creating the perfect tree. In our desire to
create this perfect tree, are we creating an unnecessary fire danger in our
homes.
The problem with live Christmas trees is that they are extremely
flammable, especially when the tree starts drying out and the needles start
to fall from the tree. When a Christmas tree ignites, the typical fire tends
to be more severe and burns with such intensity that injuries, fatalities and
property loss occur at higher rates.
The National Fire Protection Association reported that one in every 22
Christmas tree fires resulted in a death. That’s a very high average.
The other side of this equation is that over 33 million live Christmas
trees are sold each year in the United States. Between 1999 and
2002, the National Fire Protection Association reported an average of 310
fires per year that were started by Christmas trees igniting.
This amounts to less than one percent of reported structure fires.
Clearly the facts tell us that there is an increased risk. Does this
mean we should toss our tree? No, what it means is we should take the time to
learn how to safely have a Christmas tree in our home.
When you purchase a tree, check for fresh and green needles. Keep the
tree watered to slow down the drying-out process.
Always use safe tree lights that have been approved by a testing
laboratory, and always follow manuf acturers’ recommendations and dispose of lights that have
frayed or broken cords or loose bulbs. Always unplug lights when leaving home
or going to bed. Never use candles to decorate your tree. Keep the tree at
least 3 feet away from any heat source, and when the tree starts to drop needles, it’s time to remove the tree from the house.
If proper safety precautions are followed, you can safely continue the
wonderful tradition of having a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the
home.
24/7/365: You call; we res p o n d .
KENNETH LEE KNIGHT is a battalion chief in the High Point Fire
Department.
|
|
