Christmas is time for tree fires

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, each year, in the U.S., there are up to 30 million real Christmas trees sold. Sales of farm-grown Christmas trees has been on the decline since the early 2000s when the economy took a turn for the worse and Americans began purchasing artificial trees as a way to save money.

Between 2001 and 2007, artificial Christmas tree sales jumped from 7.3 million to 17.4 million.

Each year, according to the United States Fire Administration, Christmas trees account for 200 fires, six deaths, 25 injuries and more than $6 million in property damage. Reports from the National Fire Protection Association state that between 2003 and 2007, of home Christmas tree fires, 42 percent occurred in De-cember and 13 percent occurred in January.

From Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, 36 percent were home Christmas tree fires. Major factors of these fires were:

n Electrical problems (67%)

n Too close to a heat source (26%)

n Involved decorative lights (23%)

n Involved candles (14%)

Whether you choose to decorate with a real Christmas tree or an artificial one, protect your family from fire, injuries or worse by taking the proper steps in caring for and decorating your tree.

The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue in conjunction with the National Fire Protec-tion Association recommends the following Christmas tree safety tips:

Choosing a tree

Look for a healthy and fresh tree; grasp the needles and pull toward you. The branches shouldn't break or the needles fall off when bending.

n When choosing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.

Tree placement

Position the tree away from sources of heat that can cause premature drying or igniting, i.e. fireplaces, heat registers, direct sunlight, etc.

n If rearranging furniture, maintain a safe clearance, approximately three feet, between the tree and any sources of heat.

n Do not obstruct exits and passageways.

n Approximately 5,800 individuals, each year, are treated in hospital emergency rooms for falls associated with holiday decorations.

Keeping it fresh

Cut two inches off the base and immediately immerse the cut end into water.

n Place the tree in a sturdy stand, one that can hold the weight of the tree and a large amount of wa-ter.

n Check the water in the tree stand frequently. An average tree can consume a quart to a gallon of water every day.

n Do not allow the water level to drop below the cut/base of the tree (pores will seal preventing water absorption and increase drying).

Decorating safely

Decorate the tree with miniature lights (larger lights create heat build up and increase drying).

n Never use real candles on a tree.

n Inspect used lights prior to placement on the tree.

n Look carefully for frayed wires, broken sockets and other signs of wear.

n Purchase and use only UL listed lights and electrical items.

n Limit outlet usage to three strands of push-in bulbs or 50 screw-in bulbs per outlet.

n Turn off all decorations, tree, interior and exterior lights, before leaving the house or going to bed.

Safe disposal

Remember, dried out trees are highly flammable. As the holiday season ends:

n Promply dispose of your tree when it becomes dry and the needles begin to drop.

n Even a well-watered tree after four weeks, poses a fire hazard. (If you put your tree up during Thanksgiv-ing, it should be discarded the week after Christmas, not New Year's Day!)

n Do not place the tree in your garage or lean it up against your home.

n Never burn a Christmas tree in the fireplace or woodstove.

n Due to their high sap content, when burned, Christmas trees cause creosote buildup within your chimney. Creosote is highly flammable and can ignite, causing a chimney fire.

n Depending on your trash and/or recycling service:

n Place your tree curbside for trash collection; or

n Drop off at the nearest, landfill, recycling container or facility.

This column is provided by the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue's Community Relations Team. Send questions or comments to DFR Responding to You, 9250 Lee Ave., Manassas, VA 20110 or via e-mail to dfrrespond ingtoyou@ pwcgov.org.