Christmas Tree Safety

The track record shows, that at this time of year, accidental house fires and the number of fire deaths are often at their highest. With the holiday season upon us there are many opportunities for everyone to reduce the incidents of preventable fires to ensure a safe holiday season.

“While there are a number of contributing factors leading to these often preventable fires”, Fire Chief Brent Marshall says, “The Christmas tree has unfortunately been named as being one of the leading causes of fires at this time of year”. The main focal point during the Christmas celebration can be the cause of so much tragedy.

Chief Marshall has these few safety tips to help you keep your Christmas tree safe.

1. When looking for the perfect tree, check for brown, dry and brittle needles. The needles should be green, moist and pliable.
2. Lift and drop the tree 2-3 times on a hard surface and listen for a solid knock rather than a dull thud. Numerous needles falling off are a sure sign of a dry tree.
3. Before placing in the stand, cut 2-3” off the base diagonally to allow the tree to absorb lots of water.
4. Check and add water daily.
5. Use only CSA approved and labelled indoor Christmas lights.
6. Unplug the lights before going out or going to bed.
7. Where possible avoid the use of extension cords. When necessary, only use CSA approved and labelled cords.
8. Ensure you have working smoke alarms on each floor.

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