Real trees used as decoration during Christmas are beautiful, but also pose a fire risk. If the tree is cut down and then mounted, it is at risk for quickly drying out and becoming unsafe. Follow these tips to keep your home safe over the holidays:
- Keep the base of your tree in water to delay the drying process.
- Limit the amount of time the cut tree is on display so that it doesn’t have a chance to completely dry out.
- Keep all heat sources and open flames well away from the tree. This includes placing the tree too close to a fireplace where a spark or even radiant heat can pose a risk.
- Make sure any Christmas lights are utilized per manufacturer’s instructions, including not plugging too many end-to-end.
- Only plug in the lights when the tree is under observation.
- Limit the use of extension cords whenever possible and avoid overloading cords and sockets.
- Consider the use of a live tree where roots and all are harvested and kept planted in dirt, similar to any other house plant. There are also many realistic looking artificial trees available which are more fire resistant. Contact your local dealer for more information on the artificial trees.
For more information or for questions, contact the Lenexa Fire Department at 913.888.6380.