Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Red Cross and Salt Lake fire officials are warning about fire risks from Christmas trees and presents.
- They advise keeping trees at least 3 feet from heat sources and ensuring proper tree care.
SALT LAKE CITY — Buying a live Christmas tree and getting the family together to decorate it —or to watch someone else decorate it — are some highlights of the Christmas season.
If you are not careful, however, that Christmas tree can go from being a beautiful, pine-smelling symbol of the holidays to the fire-causing culprit that has turned your Christmas break into a time for finding housing for your family and pets.
The holiday season is not only a time to celebrate family and gifts, it is the time when the Red Cross chapters and fire departments across the nation see an increase in home fires, typically caused by Christmas trees — although presents also pose a risk.
These fires are 100% preventable, however, as long as you know what to with your tree and those gifts, fire officials say.
"My biggest advice (is) to make sure the tree is in a proper location in the house," said Salt Lake Fire Capt. Brandt Hancuff. "You want to make sure the tree is 3 feet away from any source of heat ... fireplace, candle, even a space heater."
Monday, the Red Cross of the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter and the Salt Lake City Fire Department joined forces to demonstrate the speed at which a flame from a candle can quickly engulf and destroy everything in a room.
In a burn cube that was built in a steel-framed shipping container and placed outdoors, a mock living room was created with a sofa, a side chair and gifts in wrapping paper. A firefighter used a candle with a relatively small flame and lit the tree, which was fully engulfed in flames in just a few minutes. The flames then quickly spread across the room, destroying everything in its path.
All caused by the flames from a candle on a Christmas tree.
"Sixty percent of the disasters we respond to every year are home fires, which is surprising to a number of people because they think of us in terms of hurricanes, tornados, other things of that nature," said Jeremiah Lafranca, executive director of the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. "One of the most common things with Christmas trees is that people just don't take care of them properly."
Local firefighters and staff from the area Red Cross remind anyone with a fresh tree to water it, making sure it does not get dry. They also suggest checking out your tree lights to ensure there are not any tattered areas of the cord. They also encourage families with fresh trees to shut the tree lights off when they go to bed or leave the house.
Although Christmas trees may be the cause of many house fires this time of year, presents are also flammable and can cause a home fire as well. Embers from the flames in the fireplace catching hold of a wrapped gift are not rare. As such, firefighters suggest using the same rule for gifts as you do with the tree: Keep them 3 feet away from any heat source, including space heaters.
If some of these recommendations sound familiar, they should. The Salt Lake City Fire Department has been holding these demonstrations for at least the last 30 years. Firefighters often repeat the same tips to keep people and homes safe, but the firefighters do not mind — not if it can save a life.
"Not only do we respond to emergencies, if we can prevent the emergencies, that's the best," Hancuff said. "So we'll give this message every year to show the importance ... and at least prevent one (fire)."
Christmas tree fire safety tips:
- Choose a fresh tree with green needles that don't fall off when touched.
- Cut 2 inches from the tree trunk base before placing it in the stand to improve water absorption.
- Keep the tree well watered and check the water level daily.
- Position the tree at least 3 feet away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, space heaters or candles.
- Ensure the tree doesn't block any exits.
- Use only holiday lights certified by a recognized testing laboratory.
- Inspect light strings and connections for damage. Do not use broken or frayed wires.
- Turn off Christmas tree lights before going to bed or leaving home.
- Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
- Dispose of the tree safely after the holidays, especially if it has dried out.
Information from the American Red Cross
