Safety Tips : Keep Yule Fires Only in Hearth

The mirth and whirl of the holiday season can also bring increased fire danger.

During the last two Christmas seasons in San Diego County, eight people were seriously injured and $500,000 worth of property was lost in fires, according to San Diego Fire Department officials.

Christmas trees, lights, candles and fireplaces are the most common holiday fire starters.

But many fresh trees and trees treated with fire-retardant chemicals are relatively safe for residential use, a Fire Department official said.

The error people make is not properly watering trees.

Water Daily

“By keeping them watered daily, they will remain fresh,” said Joy Price, program director for the nonprofit Burn Institute, adding that they need more than a cup or two of water. “Trees need one or two quarts a day, and they should have a stand adequate for that amount.”

If people want trees sprayed with a fire-retardant, Price recommended that it be done at the lot where the tree is purchased, if possible. Retardant can be purchased and applied at home, but it might not be done adequately, she said.

Christmas lights are the most frequent fire sources, said Ida Cheney, a Fire Department spokeswoman.

“Only use properly tested lighting,” Cheney said. “Never try to repair a short in the lights. Replace them.”

Overloading electrical outlets is also a danger.

“We advise people to get extension cords with a circuit breaker, like those used for computers,” Price said. “Then if there is an overload it will automatically cut off.”

Some other lighting tips:

- Always turn off indoor and outdoor lights when away from home.

- Don’t use indoor lights outside and vice-versa.

- Use hooks to hang up outdoor lights. Never drive nails into the cord because it might contact the live wire.

- Candles add a festive glow to many homes, especially during the holidays. But people get busy and overlook the obvious. They place candles within reach of small children, near flammable materials, or leave them unattended--with tragic results, Price said.

The Fire Department advises that fireplaces should be screened and all flammable materials, including Christmas trees and stockings, kept well away from them.

“Never dispose of trees in the fireplace,” Cheney said.

Don’t Burn Gift Paper

Stoking a fire with gift-wrapping paper is not a good idea.

“All too often, people have a fire burning in the fireplace on Christmas Day and it seems like a good idea to burn the wrapping paper,” Price said. “But it burns very rapidly and generates intense heat.”

This can cause a chimney or roof fire which is often not visible from inside the house. The fire can feed along rafters in the attic and cause the roof to suddenly burst into flames.

Because smoke detectors are often located below this kind of fire, warning time is cut short.

Chimney fires, which are accompanied by a roaring or sucking noise, feed on accumulated tar and soot. This can cause structural damage if the chimney cracks from the intense heat. The Fire Department advises people to have chimneys cleaned yearly to avoid the highly flammable buildup of tar and soot.

“Always close the flue and call the Fire Department if you have a chimney fire,” Price said. “People can be exposed to toxic fumes if they try to let it burn itself out.”