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Holiday Safety Tip - Keep Your Christmas Tree Watered! |
| By Firefighter Lee Kaiser | |
| December 4, 2012 | |
| Many people enjoy fresh Christmas trees in their homes during the holiday season, but home fires involving trees can be deadly. Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe if you choose to decorate with a fresh tree. 1. Select a tree that is "green" and the needles do not easily break. Bounce the tree on its trunk to test if needles fall off the tree. If many needles fall off, the tree is not fresh and should not be brought into the home. 2. Fireplaces or heating vents are not good for keeping trees fresh. Keep your tree away from sources of heat. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. 3. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. 4. Water your tree daily or more if needed to keep it from drying out. The tree's stand should always have water in it. 5. Do not burn branches or needles in a fireplace or wood stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service. Recycling Christmas Trees in Oldham County This year, the Oldham County Solid Waste / Recycling department will be recycling fresh trees for free. Drop your tree off anytime from December 26 - Jan 31 at their facility at 3943 Jones Drive in Buckner, KY. Christmas Tree Fire Facts and Figures: •Between 2005-2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 240 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 13 deaths, 27 injuries, and $16.7 million in direct property damage annually. •Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious. On average, one of every 18 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death. •A heat source too close to the Christmas tree started one of every five (20%) of these fires. •Eighteen percent of home Christmas tree structure fires were intentionally set. Half of the intentional Christmas tree fires occurred in January and may have been related to disposal. Please be safe this holiday season! |
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