SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Hundreds of Christmas tree fires happen across the country every year and Spokane Valley Fire has some tips to keep you and your tree safe.
Fire departments nationwide respond to dozens of Christmas tree fires every year, some even resulting in death.
SVFD said the days around and just after Christmas are the most likely time for a Christmas tree to catch fire.
“Everybody knows those things are replaceable, the people aren’t,” said SVFD assistant fire marshal Lee Bauder. “With those fires that happen every year, there’s three fatalities within those 800 fires and those fatalities, those people aren’t coming back.”
Real Christmas trees are at the highest risk for fires at the end of the holiday season, especially when not watered properly. In order to reduce that fire risk, it can be as simple as watering your tree every day and making sure the tree isn’t in front of any exits in the event that it does catch fire.
You can also reduce your fire risk by making sure you bought a tree with fresh, green needles that did not fall off when you touched it. As far as decorations, make sure to use lights that don’t have any frayed cords or loose bulbs.
“When you have problems with lights, replace the strands. The strands with the electricity running through them can cause fires,” Bauder said. “That’s the number one source of ignition for Christmas trees is too close to heat sources.”
SVFD also recommends not using candles or keeping them anywhere near your Christmas tree.
Always make sure to turn off any lights when you leave home or go to bed.
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