How To Prevent Christmas Tree Fires In Cumming Homes

CUMMING, GA — The holidays are here in Cumming, and it’s likely your family already made one of the most challenging decisions of the season: to buy a real or artificial Christmas tree.

As many as 30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year in the United States, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. While some prefer real trees for being a renewable, recyclable resource, others often view a real tree as a “simple pleasure” during the holiday season.

There are a few drawbacks — though not many — to purchasing a real Christmas tree. Most consumers can expect to pay a bit more for one this year — about 5-10 percent — thanks to weather issues and higher shipping costs.

Also, if you’re not careful or take the necessary precautions, your real Christmas tree — as well as your family’s memories — could go up in flames.

U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 160 Christmas tree fires each year between 2015 and 2019, the most recent data available through the National Fire Protection Association. These fires caused two deaths, more than a dozen injuries and more than $10 million in direct property damage.

Many people who opt for a real tree will either cut it down themselves or buy it pre-cut at a lot. Buying a real tree requires extra care to keep the trees from drying out and becoming fuel for a deadly house fire.

And it takes very little time for a fire to become deadly.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted a live Christmas tree burn to demonstrate how quickly Christmas tree fires ignite when needles become brittle due to underwatering.

Trees can become fully engulfed in a matter of seconds, then ignite everything in the path of the flames. By comparison, an electrical fire sparked for a demonstration on a well-watered tree didn’t spread at all.

Here are a few other quick facts about Christmas tree fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association:

• Electrical or lighting equipment was responsible for nearly half of all Christmas tree fires.
• More than one-fifth of the Christmas tree fires happened because the tree was too close to a heat source.
• About 1 in 5 Christmas tree fires were intentional. These usually were set in January.
• More than 2 out of every 5 Christmas tree fires started in the living room.
• Artificial trees aren’t completely safe from fire risk. If you have a fake tree, you still need to be careful not to place it too near a heat source and must use appropriate lighting according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

You can prevent Christmas tree fires by taking a few extra safety precautions recommended by the National Fire Protection Association:

Picking The Tree

• Choose one with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Placing The Tree

• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2 inches from the base of the trunk.
• Ensure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.

Lighting The Tree

• Use lights labeled by a recognized testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for how many light strands you can connect.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.