Dreaming of a safe Christmas
By Melanie Davis
melanie@highcountrymedia.net

The holiday season brings cheer and warmth, but a few sources of holiday warmth, if unattended, can be deadly. Cooking, decorations, candles and Christmas trees are the leading causes of house fires during the holidays.

“This Christmas and New Year’s season is a joyful time for family and friends in Watauga County, filled with generosity, warmth, family and tradition,” Sheriff Len Hagaman said. “But let’s make it a safe time as well.”

One third of American homes have a live or cut Christmas tree. A real Christmas trees adds tradition and a pine scent to the home, but must be properly maintained for both beauty and safety.

The potential for fire lies in a dry tree. A good tree begins with selection. The Christmas tree should have been kept in water at all times. Needles should be green and hard to pull from the branches. When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of needles indicates a tree is too dry and a potential fire hazard.

When setting up the tree, be sure it is at least three feet from floor heaters, fire places or other heat sources.

Aside from reducing fire risk, this action will also maintain the beauty of a real tree by keeping if from drying out. It is advisable to secure the tree with wire to prevent tipping.

The tree stand should hold at least one gallon of water and should be checked daily. A six foot tree will use an average of one gallon of water every two days.

Decorations are another leading cause of residential fires during the Christmas holiday. All ornaments should be nonflammable or flame-retardant.

Lights should be inspected for frayed wires, gaps in insulation, broken or cracked sockets, or excessive wear.

If a strand shows any of the above signs, it should be discarded. Never use candles in place of lights strands, even on an artificial tree, and electric lights should not be used on a metallic tree.

The Christmas tree should be turned off while the owners sleep, or if no one will be in the home for an extended time.

When using more than one strand of lights, use extra caution not to overload electrical circuits. This could cause a short or sparks, leading to a fire in the home.

After the celebration, remove all loose wrapping paper from around the tree and fireplace areas immediately.

The Christmas tree should be disposed of properly, or better yet, recycled. Many organizations collect discarded trees to be used as mulch.

Never burn a Christmas tree, wreaths or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.

As with the Thanksgiving holiday, cooking fires pose a hazard. While in the kitchen, cooks may be distracted by holiday guests, entertaining and last-minute details. It is important to ensure items such as oven mitts, cook books, dish towels and/or wooden spoons are not placed too close to the cooking heat source. A responsible adult should be in the kitchen at all times during meal preparation.

A factor often overlooked in holiday fires is that of children playing with fire. Young children can be particularly attracted to candles. Often, they will try to imitate the adults in trying to light a candle themselves, with dire consequences. Fires started by children playing with lighters and matches peaks during December in the days leading up to Christmas.

The U.S. Fire Administration attributes this fact to parents busy with holiday preparations and unable to sufficiently supervise children. Also, children may be searching for hidden gifts and come across lighters and matches. Naturally curious, youngsters may view these items as new playthings.

A fire extinguisher should be kept on hand at all times. This can be used to contain small fires, but in the event of an emergency, families should have a planned evacuation route already in place. Checking the batteries in smoke detectors throughout the home could easily be incorporated into the holiday decorating tradition.

For more information on holiday fire prevention, or any of the fire and life safety programs offered, call the Boone Fire Department at (828) 262-4520.