Holiday fire safety tips to keep in mind
Christmas tree fires may not happen often, but when they do — it's very dangerous.
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Nobody wants to pull an Uncle Lewis from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and burn down the Christmas tree. Yet, there are risks at play that could lead to such doom.
Every year, fire departments across the U.S. respond to about 160 home fires started by Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Association. More than half of those fires were due to electrical malfunctions or a heat source being too close to the tree. Christmas tree fires are dangerous, as was the case with a deadly Christmas tree fire in Fairmount earlier this year.
For a more in-depth rundown on fire safety, check out Inquirer reporter Abraham Gutman’s latest. Otherwise, here are fire prevention tips from the City of Philadelphia to keep your family safe this holiday season, especially when there is a large, highly-flammable tree in the middle of your living room.
Check all your smoke alarms
All smoke alarms in your house should be operational and have fresh batteries. The Philadelphia Fire Department recommends you have one smoke alarm on each level of your house. Anyone in the city can request smoke alarms for free through 311. They’re also available at most hardware stores.
The city also recommends:
Testing each alarm in your house.
Checking the date on your alarms. If they are more than 10 years old, they need to be replaced.
If your smoke alarms use 9-volt batteries, replace them with smoke alarms that use 10-year, sealed lithium-ion batteries.
Follow Christmas tree care instructions
Some Christmas trees will come with care instructions. If your tree doesn’t, these easy-to-follow tips will help ensure its safety while in your home.
Keep in mind: In Philadelphia, only one-family and two-family homes are allowed to have natural-cut trees in the house. So multi-family homes and large apartment complexes aren’t allowed to have them.
Don’t choose a Christmas tree that is too dry. Bend some of the needles and if they break, don’t buy that tree.
Cut an extra inch off the trunk of the tree; the fresh cut will help the tree better absorb water.
Securely place the tree in a stand that allows for plenty of room for water to be poured in.
Check the water level daily and water when needed. (A fresh tree can use up to one quart of water per day for each inch of the trunk’s diameter. Example: If your tree’s trunk is three inches across, use three quarts of water per day.)
Turn off tree lights and electrical decorations whenever the tree is unattended.
The tree should not block stairways or exits.
Keep the tree at least three feet from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles, or heating vents.
Decorate your tree safely
Don’t overload an outlet with multiple plugs, extension cords, or power strips.
Ensure electrical cords and wires are not frayed or tangled.
Make sure you’re hanging lights intended for indoor use.
Replace broken lights, cords, or electrical devices. Tighten loose bulbs.
Do not connect more than three strands of lights together.
Keep candles at least one foot away from the tree. If you can, use battery-powered, flameless candles instead.
Turn off lights and electronic decorations before you go to bed or leave the tree unattended. Blow out candles.
Artificial trees should be labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.
Dispose of your Christmas tree after the holiday or if it dries out
If you do not consistently water your Christmas tree, it can dry out and pose a a major fire safety risk. If it dries out, recycle or dispose of the tree.
In Philadelphia, you can dispose of your tree during regular curbside trash pickup; however, the tree won’t be recycled or composted. There are three ways to recycle your tree:
Private pick-up services
According to the city, these groups offer pick-up services for $15–$20 per Christmas tree: