Many families cherish the tradition of picking out a live Christmas tree and bringing it home. A real tree certainly adds a classic look, and smell, to your home that immediately evokes memories of the holidays. However, real trees also bring the threat of disastrous fire to your home. To keep your home and family safe this Christmas season, follow these tips.
- Fresh, never dry
Christmas tree safety begins with choosing your tree. The longer trees have been cut and sitting on a lot, the more they dry out. So, while some of the older trees might be cheaper, they’re also a greater fire hazard. Look for a fresh tree that won’t dry out until after Christmas. Once you get your tree home, you can help keep it fresh by submerging the trunk in plenty of water. Fresh trees typically require about a gallon of water each day, so be sure to refill water in the stand often.
- Safe lighting
Strings of lights strung around your tree complete the look, but they can also be dangerous. A general rule of thumb is to never attach more than three light strings to the same outlet or extension cord. It’s also wise to turn lights and any other electric elements of your tree off when you leave the house, or over night. It’s important that, since lights can spark or short, or just over-heat, you be able to monitor the tree while it’s lit. While it won’t prevent fires, running cords along walls and not under rugs and carpets is important to prevent trip and fall injuries and keep your tree from falling.
- Keep away from heat
In most homes, the holidays bring an abundance of candles, fires in the fireplace, space heaters and other ways to stay warm or be festive. Just like any flammable material in your home, however, your Christmas tree should be kept far away from heat sources and open flames. Portable heaters and even electronics can heat up enough to cause your tree to catch fire. Embers jumping from your fireplace or candles blowing in the wind have also been culprits of tree fires. Be aware of the risks and always keep an eye out for potential hazards close to your tree.
In addition to these three tips, it’s always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergency. You should always have one in the kitchen, but keep a second one in the same room as your Christmas tree for quick access.
If you’re ready to decorate a new home for Christmas next year, contact us at Perry Hood Properties. We build high quality homes in Tulsa, Bixby and Broken Arrow. Get started building your own home, or browse through our move-in ready homes that are already constructed.