Christmas Tree Safety in Waukesha County Homes

11/29/2021 (Permalink)

U.S. firefighters respond to roughly 200 Christmas tree fires per year. Follow these tips to stay safe this holiday season.

Don’t let a house fire disrupt your holidays.  The most common sources of winter holiday fires are live Christmas trees and holiday decorations that are too close to a heat source, candles, and cooking fires.  Although these fires are rare, they do occur, and they can be destructive and deadly.  The following are a few tips to help make your Holidays safe from fire.

When purchasing a live Christmas tree, safety starts before you even head to the tree lot.  If you live in a condo or apartment, there is likely a restriction against live Christmas trees.  Be sure to check with your HOA or management company for any rules or restrictions before choosing a tree.  At the tree lot, look for a fresh, green tree!

Checking Your Tree

• Bend the needles.  If they break, the tree has probably already dried out.
• Grip a branch and slide your fist down it.  Most of the needles should stay on the tree.
• Check the trunk, especially at the bottom where it’s cut.  It should be covered in sap and sticky to the touch.
• Shake the tree.  If green needles fall everywhere, it’s too dry.

Before bringing the tree inside, shake it to dislodge loose needles or other debris.  Prior to placing it in the tree holder, make a fresh cut off the bottom of the trunk.  A freshly cut trunk will absorb water more effectively.  Use a tree holder that’s wide and strong enough to keep the tree stable.  

It is also very important to take care of your tree once it is inside.  Fill the holder with water as soon as you set your tree up.  Then, check it every day.  It needs to stay full!

Additional Tips

• Place your tree away from heat sources, especially open flame heat sources.

• Don’t block exit routes with your tree.

• Use only lighting approved by a nationally recognized laboratory such as UL.

• Check all lighting for frayed wires.

• Don’t leave the lights on when the tree is unattended.

• When the tree dries out, discard it immediately.

With these safety tips, your holiday can be fun and enjoyable for your family and your guests.  Please contact your local fire department for questions about fire safety and make sure you have a working fire and carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home.

In the event you sustain fire or smoke damage from a decor mishap, please contact SERVPRO of Milwaukee North at 414-354-7566 for help.