Christmas Tree Safety

12/10/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of South Columbus if you experience a fire during this holiday season.

This is the time of the year that people wait all year for. The time of the year where they can finally start decorating for the Christmas holiday. A live Christmas tree is a common choice for most homeowners. But did you know that Christmas trees alone result in 13 million dollars, annually, in property damage? When putting up a live tree in your home, the combination of the tree's dryness, electrical malfunction with lights and poorly located heating sources can make for a deadly combination. Follow these tips below to prevent a potential fire this holiday season.

• When shopping for a tree, look for a fresh tree with vibrant green needles that are hard to pluck off and don't break off easily from its branches. Fresh trees are less likely to catch fire. 
• Always place your tree away from any heating sources like fireplaces, candles, radiators, heat vents or lights.
• Keep the base of the tree filled with water to avoid it drying out.
• Make sure your indoor and outdoor lights have been tested by the UL or ETL/ITSNA for safety. Throw away any damaged lights you may uncover.
• Make sure the lights your are using on the exterior of your house are labeled suitable for exterior placement. Plug exterior lighting into a ground-fault circuit interrupter protected receptacle.
• Keep all of your candles away from the tree, furniture and decor.
• Don't forget to turn all the lights off on the Christmas tree.