'O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree'!
By Wade Parker
County Extension Coordinator If you are anything like me, you do not have your Christmas tree up. However, now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is past time to get that beautiful tree shining!

The holiday season is a joyful time of generosity and warmth, songs, and family and traditions. It is also, unfortunately, a time when we see an increase in house fires - fueled in part by holiday decorations such as candles and Christmas trees. Like any other tree, Christmas trees will only decline once they leave the soil in which they were grown. Homeowners may add water to slow this process down, but in reality this only delays the process. Once a Christmas tree is dry, they only need a heat source to ignite into a ball of fire. Some 200 house fires occur each year where Christmas trees are the initial source of ignition.

House fires during the winter holiday season kill 500 and injure 2,000 people, and cause more than $500 million in damage.

Please don't get me wrong, you don't have to give up your holiday decorations in the interest of safety. But there are some easy things you can do to reduce your risk of a fire.

 Select a fresh Christmas tree that is kept in water at all times. Needles on fresh trees should be green and should not fall off easily. Don't put your tree up too early or leave it up longer than two weeks. Dried out Christmas trees can ignite easily and boost a fire by spreading it rapidly to nearby combustible materials.

 Place your Christmas tree in a safe place away from heat sources, such as a fireplace or heat vent.

 Maintain your holiday lights. Inspect your lights before you use them to ensure they don't have frayed wires, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets or excessive wear. Only use lighting that is listed by an approved testing laboratory and don't leave the lights on when you're not home.

 Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Don't link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe. Periodically check the wires. They should not be warm to the touch.

 Use only nonflammable decorations that are placed away

from heat vents and if you're using an artificial tree, make sure that it's flame retardant.

 Avoid using candles. If you do use candles, ensure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down.

 Do not leave lit candles unattended, never put candles on a Christmas tree, and never leave the house with candles burning. Place menorahs away from vents or flammable materials.

I hope you have fun selecting and decorating your Christmas tree this season, and just remember to keep it safe!

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