Deck the halls with tree-safety reminders

By Melanie Davis

The holiday celebration is a bright time of year, made brighter by multiple strands of bulbs illuminating Christmas trees.

The Boone Fire Department and the Blowing Rock Fire & Rescue have teamed up to spread the word about holiday decorating safety. Live trees purchased in Boone or Blowing Rock will likely have a tag attached with safety reminders.

In choosing a Christmas tree, whether live or artificial, there some precautions to take into account. An artificial tree should be labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as flame retardant. Most artificial trees sold in retail stores carry the certification, but a consumer should verify before bringing the tree into the home.

When choosing a live tree, pick a tree with fresh, green needles that don’t fall off when touched. If needles are already falling, the tree is too dry and could present a fire hazard. Before placing the tree into the stand, cut at least one to two inches from the base to allow the tree to absorb as much water as possible from the stand. The water in the stand should be checked daily to ensure the tree stays moist while inside.

According to Boone fire-prevention specialist Matthew Crawford, a Christmas tree can be fully engulfed in flames in under a minute. He reminds community members to check smoke detectors in the home as a part of the decorating process.

A Christmas tree, artificial and live, should be kept at least three feet from the home’s heat source.

A tradition for many families is the annual untangling of the lights. Each strand should be checked for worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Discard damaged lights. No more than three strands of mini lights should be connected and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in light sets.

Most lights carry a designation of indoor or outdoor use. Crawford recommends people pay close attention to that designation and use the lights only where they have been tested for use,

When decorating the outside of the home, use clips to hold lights in place rather than nails or staples to prevent damaging the cords.

Candles provide an extra feeling of warmth to a holiday celebration. However, December is the peak time of year for home fires caused by candles. Candles should be placed away from decorations or other flammable materials. Children and pets should be monitored closely around lit candles.

After the presents have been unwrapped and the dishes done, it is time to take down the festive decorations. When taking down light strands, label their indoor/outdoor designation as a reminder for the next year.

A live Christmas tree should be discarded when the needles begin to drop and the dry dries out. Never place the dry tree in the garage of the home or lean it against the home outside.

The Watauga County Sanitation Collection Center on Landfill Road off U.S. 421 will be accepting live Christmas trees for mulching at no charge after Christmas.

For more information on fire safety and prevention, call Crawford at the Boone Fire Department at (828) 268-6180.