Holiday Fire Can Ruin Your Celebration

Holiday trees, festooned with lights and fancy ornaments, are symbols of joy and celebration. But every holiday season, accidental fires involving indoor tree displays spell tragedy for too many families. The key to preventing tree fires and other holiday mishaps is common sense and advance preparation, according to home safety specialists at the National Safety Council in Chicago.

The safety experts offer these guidelines:

Since most trees remain on display for at least a few days, make sure the tree you choose is as fresh as possible at the time of purchase.

Start with your sense of smell. The stronger the evergreen scent, the fresher the tree.

Next, give the tree a bend test. The tips of fresh trees bend easily but tend to snap and break in older, drier trees.

If the tree passes the bend and sniff tests, put it through the bounce routine. Bounce the trunk end on the ground a few times. If the tree rains needles, it’s too dry, so look for another. If just a few needles fall, head for the cash register.

Artificial trees, a popular alternative to the real thing, may be combustible. Buy only a tree that is tagged fire- resistant. If the tree has a built-in electrical system, make sure it carries the UL marker.

When you get the tree home, lop off one to two inches from the original cut, sawing at an angle rather than straight across. Stand the tree in a container of water mixed with dirt or sand as soon as possible, and be sure to add water daily. It’s a good idea to make one person in the household respon- sible for the daily water check.

Place the tree in a shady part of the room (sunlight will dry it out) and away from heat sources (registers, radiators and fireplaces). Position the tree at a distance from foot traffic and close enough to an electric outlet to eliminate the need for extension cords.