Whether your Christmas tree will be put up over the Thanksgiving holiday or will be taken down soon, make sure you don't accidentally create a fire hazard in your home.
Putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house for the holidays is usually the official start of the gift-giving season for many people: hanging stockings on the coat, lighting candles in the kitchen and filling every inch of your space with the Christmas spirit of decorating .
But no matter how you decide to decorate your winter wonderland, many elements of your holiday decorations, from fairy lights to your precious Christmas tree, pose safety risks that you may have overlooked.
The holiday season brings many fire risks
They may look cute, but Christmas decorations pose a fire risk that can lead to fatal situations.
Between 2017 and 2021, U.S. firefighters responded to an average of 150 home fires caused by Christmas trees each year. Over the same period, firefighters responded to an average of 793 home fires that started with decorations, not including Christmas trees, the National Fire Protection Association reports.
The agency said the fires killed an average of four people, injured 33 people and caused $14 million in direct property damage.
Lighting or electrical distribution systems were involved in more than two Christmas tree fires in five homes, while nearly one in five Christmas tree fires was caused by one or more light bulbs. 8% of Christmas tree fires result from the use of candles.
To make sure the only thing lighting up your home this December is holiday cheer, here are some tips for keeping your home safe and fireproof during the holidays.
Christmas tree, tips for the safety of Christmas decorations
Choose your tree wisely
Much of the debate over which tree to choose has to do with how tall or wide the tree will be, but it's also a good practice to make sure the needles are in good condition on the actual tree.
“You want to choose a Christmas tree that has fresh green needles that won't fall off if you touch them,” said Assistant Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio of the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that Christmas trees become more flammable when dry. If you start the season with a dry, brittle tree, your home is at greater risk of fire than a more vigorous tree.
Store your plant properly and keep it away from fire
According to the National Fire Protection Association, about two in every five homes Christmas tree fires start in the living room.
To avoid this, Chuenqiu advises homeowners to cut two inches from the base of the tree trunk before placing it away from heat sources such as fires, candles, radiators, lights or heating ducts.
Pamela Reynaud, regional manager at Telgian Engineering & Consulting, notes that you need to have a clear area ready for your tree before placing it.
“Before you take out the plants and all the decorations, get rid of all the trash,” she said. "You want to make sure you plant your trees in an area that doesn't have a lot of fuel. You don't want to make all that mess because you overload the fire."
You should also ensure that your tree is not placed in a location that blocks access.
Don't forget to water your plants!
Not everyone is born with a green thumb, but watering your plant every day is a sure way to keep it alive and avoid serious fire risks in your living room.
"You want to make sure your tree is moist. The drier the tree, the faster the fire will take," Reno said. "Yes, it will die eventually, but you don't want it to die prematurely."
Test the Christmas lights before use
Chionchi also recommends using lights listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Among these lights, only use indoor lights for interior decoration; Keep outdoor lights outside.
Once you've crossed them off your checklist, check your lights carefully to see if they can be used this year or if you should ditch them for a new set. If there are loose connections, broken light bulbs, broken wires, or faulty plugs, it's time to remove them.
Improperly storing lights can cause corrosion in the wiring, or leaving the wrong bulbs in a string can pose a fire hazard if they are used, Reno said.
Note that people who use string lights should heed advice in user manuals about how many strings can be connected and how long to use them for before replacing them. Ideally, bulbs should be replaced every two to three years, with the exception of LED bulbs, which last a little longer, he said.
Lighted candles should never be used to decorate the Christmas tree.
When it's time to go to sleep or you're out and about, turn off the Christmas tree and other lights. You can also choose to use timed power strips that will automatically turn off connected lights after a preset time.
Organize safely
It's fun to do this all season long and transform your entire home into the holiday vision of your dreams, but excessive or unsafe decorations can be dangerous.
However you choose to decorate your tree and home, choose fire-retardant or flame-retardant decorations, the state fire marshal said.
While it may seem cute, Reno recommends not overloading your tree with extra items. If items tend to fall, they can easily end up in the chimney. Wires from a missing crown can fly into a candle or get stuck under a stove.
Other things to keep in mind include:
When hanging lights or other electronic decorations, choose clips instead of nails to avoid damaging electrical wires.
Keep decorations away from windows and doors.
Do not place wreaths, stockings or other items near candles, fireplaces, stoves or other open flames.
Don't overdo it on energy bars
When it comes to your Christmas decorations and tree lighting, be careful not to put too many in one bucket.
“If a power strip has six plugs, it doesn't mean you have to use all six,” Renaud said.
When you take notes from Clark Griswold, you don't want to blow a fuse in your house because you plugged in all the outlets.
Be careful when using candles
The National Fire Protection Association reports that candles caused 33 percent of home decoration-related fires during the year, rising to 46 percent in December and peaking in January.
While they may not smell as pleasant as real candles, Reno recommends using battery-powered candles as a safer option, especially with all the flammable items added to your home during the holidays.
“I know you want this environment, but it can be very dangerous,” he said.
This is especially true for those who keep candles on windowsills, coffee tables or cabinets that may be filled with Christmas decorations this time of year.
If you insist on using a real candle, be sure to exercise caution and never leave a burning candle unattended, especially around children and pets. Matches and lighters should also be stored in a safe place.
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Don't decorate around the fireplace
As the winter cold approaches, many homes will begin using space heaters to keep things warm.
After having properly inspected the fireplace, cleaned the flues and carried out regular maintenance, remember to keep decorations away from open flames.
Keeping socks on the dresser is a common practice, and if you're going to do it, don't hang the stove, Reno said.
Even something as simple as a wreath or an artificial pine tree can easily catch fire.
Keep fire safety equipment handy
All households must have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers year-round.
Reno advises homeowners to check smoke detectors regularly and to not only have a fire extinguisher on hand, but also know how to use it.
Have a tip or story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com .
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This article originally appeared in the Delaware News Journal: Avoid fire hazards with these tips for decorating safely for the holidays
