Fire safety tips to keep the season merry

  • Published
  • By Michael Newbury
  • 325th Civil Engineer Squadron
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Each holiday season tragedy strikes hundreds of families throughout the United States.

Statistics show that fires related to candles, Christmas trees, holiday lighting and portable space heaters cause a dramatic increase in residential fires between Thanksgiving and New Years. While it is easy to get caught up in all of the hustle and bustle of the season, safety should still be number one on everyone's priority list.

The National Fire Protection Association reported more than 32 million families will be decorating real Christmas trees this year. A major concern is not all consumers know how to maintain their trees in a safe condition. Improperly cared for trees, if ignited, can become engulfed in flames within seconds.

Some good Christmas tree safety tips are:

· Make a fresh cut in the trunk and place the tree in water as soon as you get it home. Most trees have been dormant for a couple of months and will absorb most of their water within six to eight hours of being brought home. 

· Water trees daily to ensure their freshness. Properly maintained trees are difficult to ignite. 

· Trees should be discarded after four weeks or when they begin to lose their needles, whichever comes first. 

· Trees put up just after Thanksgiving should be discarded the week after Christmas. 

· Keep heating and ignition sources away from your tree.

Christmas day holds the record for the highest number of reported residential fires caused from burning candles. If you are going to use candles, use extreme caution and keep them well away from decorations and other combustible materials. Never decorate trees or windows with candles. It is also important to keep candles out of reach from children and pets to avoid having them accidentally tipped over.

When decorating, use lights that are listed by an independent testing laboratory and are rated for their intended use. Some lights are designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Always check cords for loose, broken bulbs and frayed wiring. Be careful not to overload circuits. A surge strip is always a good idea. Additionally, remember to turn off and unplug all holiday decorations before leaving home or going to sleep.

Home fires are not on anyone's Christmas list. Common sense and a little imagination can make for an enjoyable and safe holiday season. The Tyndall Fire & Emergency Services wishes everyone happy holidays and a merry Christmas.