The holiday season is in full swing, and it’s a wonderful time, full of joy, celebration, and spending quality time with family and friends. With a house full of activity, it’s important to be mindful of potential fire hazards that can arise during this festive time of year. To ensure your holidays stay safe and happy, here are some fire safety tips to keep in mind:

Tree & holiday plant safety

  1. Buy your tree from a local farm! Transported trees are usually cut earlier than locally grown trees and are more likely to be dry, which makes them more prone to catching fire. If there are no local tree farms near you, ask how long ago your tree was cut down.
  2. Is your tree parched? Shake the tree to see if it’s in need of some hydration. If green needles fall off, then the tree is dry. If brown needles fall from the inside, they likely fell years ago but were just trapped inside the tree. Either way, seeing what falls off your tree can be a good indicator of whether the tree is a potential fire hazard or not.
  3. Cut one inch off the tree’s base – this helps water move more easily through the trunk and keeps your tree green. Many vendors will do this for you – just ask for a fresh cut.
  4. Speaking of water, once you pick the most festive tree, make sure you’re checking the water level daily. A six-foot tree should use a gallon of water every two days.
  5. Keep those branches lovely – place the tree away from heat sources that could dry the tree out or cause a fire, such as indoor heaters or open flames.

Holiday decorations

  1. When decking the halls, keep indoor lights, indoor lighted decorations, and indoor extension cords inside the house – in many cases, these are not created for outdoor use.
  2. Whether you’re purchasing decorations for your tree or are purchasing an artificial tree, only buy materials with a “fire resistant” label.
  3. Synchronizing your outdoor lights to a holiday soundtrack to be the envy of the neighborhood? Use only outdoor-approved lights, lit decorations, and extension cords. Of course, make sure to check all extension cords, lights, and lighted decorations for frays, loose connections, or damaged plugs. Finally, always unplug or turn off all decorations that use electricity before leaving the house or going to bed.
  4. Candles, lighters, and matches all help to make the season bright, but they can also pose fire hazards. Keep candle wicks trimmed to 1/8 of an inch and keep all open flames away from trees and other evergreens, as well as curtains and other flammable surfaces.

In addition, make sure your fire extinguishers are readily available in your home and your family members now how to use them. By following these home fire safety tips, you can enjoy a festive holiday season and protect your home and loved ones from unexpected fire dangers.