Christmas is a wonderful time of year for children, adults and most everyone. Nonetheless, every year Christmas Tree fires destroy 210 structures.
Below is a video published by the National Fire Protection Association that shows just how quickly a Christmas Tree fire can spread. Watch the video at second 5.
It’s simply amazing how dangerous a dry Christmas tree that ignites can be. Over 1 Christmas Tree fire in 9, results in a fatality.
The moisture level of the tree is a key factor in determining the chances of fire.
If you put up a freshly cut tree, make sure to maintain the moisture level in the needles to avoid accidental ignition. A tree that is watered properly, and where water is added daily is very difficult to ignite…even by a blow torch!
When you buy a live tree, best practice is to cut an inch or two off the bottom, and make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source such as fireplaces, radiators etc.
Make sure any tree lights are certified by an independent testing laboratory for indoor use.
Never use lighted candles on a tree and if you have artificial lights, shut them off at night before you go to bed.
Wishing everyone a Merry and Safe Christmas.
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury lawyer. Find out more about my firm on Yelp or Avvo . Call me anytime at 916-921-6400 in Sacramento or 800-404-5400 Elsewhere.