Lights and trees are a big part of Christmas. For many, the holidays just aren’t the holidays till the lights are up, the candles are aglow and the Douglas fir’s been decorated.
With the holiday trimmings come a few safety concerns that can be easily addressed with a little caution as you deck the halls. Safe decorating habits are essential.
Safety Around the Christmas Tree
SERVPRO franchises have demonstrated just how quickly a Christmas tree can ignite. Once a tree is burning, the fire can spread to presents, curtains, furniture, blankets, and more. Soon, the whole room can be engulfed in flames.
When it comes to a Christmas tree, the big decision is whether to get a real, natural tree or an artificial one—with everything from ease to allergies impacting that decision.
With a live tree, it’s key to avoid a tree that’s dried out and make sure it stays fresh throughout the holidays—and doesn’t become a fire hazard.
How to know your live tree is fresh:
- A fresh tree will be green.
- It’s hard to pull needles from the branches of a fresh tree. Run your hands along a branch. If you end up holding more than a few needles, the tree may be too dry.
- If you bend fresh needles between your fingers, they bend, not break.
- The butt of a fresh tree’s trunk will be sticky with resin.
- If you bounce a fresh tree on the ground, it won’t lose many needles.
When you get your Christmas tree home, here are some things to keep in mind to keep the holiday season safe:
- Cut about two inches off the trunk of your tree. Exposing fresh wood allows for better water absorption to help keep your tree from drying out.
- Add water daily to keep the tree well hydrated. It can dry out quickly in the dry, heated air.
- Be sure your tree stand has its feet spread wide for stability
- Place your tree at least 3 feet (1 m) from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, portable heaters, or lights.
- Make sure the tree is out of the way of traffic and don’t block doorways or exits.
- Ornaments and decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant. Never decorate the tree with lit candles.
If you purchase an artificial tree, make sure it’s labeled “fire-retardant.”
After the holidays, don’t leave your dried-out trees in your home or garage. They are a fire hazard. There may be a recycling program in your community.
Let There Be (the Right Kind of) Lights
During the holiday season, we see lights strung up almost everywhere. It’s easy to forget that they pose a fire risk.
It’s important to remember that some holiday lights are designed for indoor or outdoor use only, while some are safe for both. A few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure your Christmas tree lights are in good working order, and that you’re using them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Look for frayed wires, gaps in the insulation, damaged sockets, and other wear.
- When you buy new lights, make sure they’ve been tested by an independent, qualified testing laboratory.
- Don’t leave your holiday lights unattended. Turn them off when you leave or go to bed.
- Don’t overload your electrical outlets. Connect your lights to an extension cord, no more than three strands, before plugging the cord into an outlet.
- Check the wires periodically. They should not be warm to the touch.
- Inspect your holiday lights each year.
- Bring outdoor lights inside after the holidays.
How to Avoid a Christmas Candle Catastrophe
Another key part of the spirit of the holidays is candles. They can bring a nice smell, pleasant light, and a cozy atmosphere to almost any room.
But like any open flame, candles add an element of concern. Before getting out the candles and lighting them up, give candle safety some serious thought:
- Consider using battery-operated flame-less candles. They can look and smell like the real thing.
- Never use lighted candles on your tree.
- Be sure to use non-flammable candle holders.
- Place your candles where they won’t be knocked over.
- Keep candles away from wrapping paper and other decorations.
SERVPRO is Here to Help®
All of us at SERVPRO want you to enjoy a festive, not fiery, holiday. We also offer some fireplace safety tips. Please follow them carefully.
Along with fire damage restoration, for both residential and commercial properties, SERVPRO offers a variety of cleanup and restoration services, such as odor removal, ceiling, floor, and wall cleaning, and document restoration.
To find out more, contact us today or visit our FAQ and Glossary.