How to Select a Tree and Save Your House

Christmas tree shopping? Don’t buy the first one you see, experts say, or that glowing symbol of peace and harmony could turn into a harbinger of tragedy.

Christmas tree fires give off tremendous heat because of the amount of energy the trees release when they burn, fire officials say.

“It’s like having a drum of gasoline go off in the living room,” said Inspector Eric Evans of the Santa Ana Fire Department.

Getting the freshest one possible is the key to tree safety, but that’s harder than it sounds. Evans and other experts recommend asking the tree lot attendant when the tree was cut. If it’s been out of the ground or water for a week or more, don’t buy it.

Then poke around yourself. Do the needle test: Bend a needle between two fingers. If the tree is fresh, the needle will spring back. If it snaps, the tree is already drying out. Get another one.

Next, reach into the center of the tree. If you come back with a handful of brown needles, don’t buy it.

“You’d be surprised how hard it is to find a fresh tree,” said Evans, who recommends shopping at several lots.

Once you’ve made a selection, cut an inch or two off the trunk and put the tree in water. Trees tend to drink a lot the first few days, so the water must be checked consistently. To keep the tree from drying out, avoid placing it directly under a heating vent and, of course, keep it away from the fireplace or any other source of open flame.

Tree fires are typically caused by a short in the lights used to decorate them, Evans said. To be as safe as possible, follow these tips:

* Use only Underwriters Laboratory-approved lights (they have the UL symbol on the box).

* Plug in strings of lights before hanging them so you can check the cords and plugs.

* Don’t use extension cords.

* Don’t use outdoor lights indoors--they burn hotter than those made for indoor use.

* Unplug the lights when you leave the house.

* Don’t use timers to turn on tree lights--or outdoor lights--when no one is home. “You want to be there when the lights are on in case anything goes wrong,” Evans said.

If the tree starts smoldering or smoking, evacuate. Don’t stop to call 911--the tree can go up in flames that fast. Make the emergency call from a neighbor’s house.

“People don’t realize the intensity and speed of Christmas tree fires. You aren’t equipped to fight it,” Evans said.

When it comes to outdoor lighting displays, officials recommend using portable ground fault interrupter (GFI) systems that can be purchased at hardware stores. If there is a short, they shut the system off.

Use caution if stapling light strands to fascia boards to ensure that the staples are not piercing the wiring and creating a passageway for electricity to reach the wood, Evans warns.

Recruit a ladder buddy when going aloft to install lights. It’s the buddy’s job to make sure the ladder remains stable to avoid accidents such as falling.

When the holidays are over, Evans recommends discarding the tree as soon as possible. And that doesn’t mean burning it in the fireplace, which is a recipe for disaster, he said.

Ditto for wrapping paper, which is highly flammable because of the inks.

As for his decor--Evans says he uses an artificial tree but admits that even they are not immune to problems that can arise from faulty lighting.