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December 12, 2009

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Sat Dec 12, 2009, 05:20 PM EST

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas trees get the blame for an average of 210 house fires every year.

Those fires cause an average of 24 deaths and 27 injuries, and they result in more than $13 million in damage.

Here are a few tips to make sure your family doesn’t join the statistics.

• Never overload extension cords, and check the wires periodically to make sure they’re not warm to the touch.

• Always turn off all Christmas tree lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving the house.

• Be sure that you buy only those lights and decorations that have been approved by Underwriters Laboratories, and when you decorate outdoors, make sure that you use the proper lights and decorations. Putting indoor products outside can lead to electrical shock or fire.

If you’re in doubt as to whether light strings are rated for outdoor use, check the color-coded UL mark on the package. A green mark means the product should be used only indoors while a red one indicates that the product is safe either indoors or outdoors.

• Be sure to inspect all decorations – both new and old – for signs of damage. If cords and plugs are damaged, throw them away.

• When hanging Christmas lights outdoors, avoid metal ladders, which can increase your risk of electrical shock.

• If you choose an artificial tree, be sure it’s fire resistant.

• If you opt for a live tree, make sure it’s fresh. Bend the needles between your fingers. If they break, the tree is too dry. Also make sure the tree trunk’s cut surface is sticky to the touch, and then as a final precaution, pick the tree up vertically and tap the trunk against the ground. If needles fall off, move on to another tree.

• Before putting your new Christmas tree into its stand, cut a couple of inches off the bottom to expose fresher, and more absorbent, wood. And keep your tree well watered. As a general rule, live trees require a quart of water each day for every inch of trunk diameter.

• Position the tree at least 3 feet from candles, fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, heat vents and other heat sources.

Christmas is no time for a house fire. Have a safe and joyful holiday season.

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