By Brandy Nance
nance@emporiagazette.com
Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage nationwide. Many of these fires center around holiday trees and holiday decorations.
Jack Taylor, Emporia fire chief, provided the following tips for preventing fires during the holiday season:
Purchasing a Christmas tree:
• Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches and the needles should not break.
• The trunk should be sticky to the touch.
• Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out and is a fire hazard.
Caring for your tree:
• Do not place the tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent.
• Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.
• Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks.
• Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
Disposing of your tree:
• Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.
• The best way is to take it to a recycling center or have it hauled away by a community pick-up service.
Maintain your holiday lights:
• Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps on insulation, broken or cracked sockets or excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.
• Do not overload electrical outlets.
• Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe.
• Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet.
• Make sure to periodically check the wires — they should not be warm to the touch.
• Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.
Holiday decorations:
• Use only non-flammable decorations.
• Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace. It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that can cause an explosion.
• If you are using a metallic or artificial Christmas tree, make sure it is flame retardant.
Candle care:
• Avoid using lit candles. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down.
• Never leave the house with candles burning.
• Never put lit candles on a Christmas tree.