TRI-CITIES, Wash. – It’s the season to hang up those Christmas Tree lights and holiday decorations. The Pasco Fire Department wants to ensure you’re making sure you’re aware of your surroundings and safe.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, one in every three home fires are caused by electrical failures. Although Christmas Tree fires don’t happen often, they’re more serious when they do.
PFD’s Ben Shearer said that when it comes to a real or artificial tree, you need to ensure it’s taken care of.
“There really isn’t a super safe tree,” said Shearer. “That’s a good message to get out there.”
Shearer said when you buy a real tree, ensure it has plenty of water.
“You got to make sure to keep those watered,” he said. “Deep bucket wells so they always have water to suck up into that tree. If you even go a day without water in it, it can dry out pretty quickly and that can be a hazard.”
Kyle Beus, the owner of Angel Brook Farm, has been setting up his Christmas Tree stand for around eight years and said some ways to make sure you’re not buying a dry tree is to shake the branches and see how many needles fall off. He said if not a lot falls off, the tree hasn’t dried out, but the tree is dry if a lot falls off.
Beus said after you’ve picked your tree, it’s important to get a fresh cut.
“Cut a half inch to an inch off the bottom of your tree,” said Beus. “Once you do that, the tree will more likely pull up water and it needs to get in water quickly.”
Beus said even if you plan on putting the tree up later, take it home and at least put it in water to keep the trunk from drying out.
According to Shearer, a dry tree can burn in a matter of seconds.
“Once it starts burning, it’s like every 30 seconds it’s going to double in size,” Shearer said. “So an eight-foot Christmas Tree in no time at all is going to be fully consumed and they can put up 1500 to 1900 degrees of heat.”
Shearer also recommends being aware of your surroundings regarding your holiday decorations.
“Candles are big this time of year but, never ever leave the room if you’re going to leave a candle lit,” he said.
He said the PFD has responded to fires all year because of not paying attention to candles.
Shearer said you must also pay attention to artificial trees because they can burn, too. As for the lights around your tree, Shearer said to check the label for UL marking; if there’s not one on the box, move on and find some that are.
