With the Holiday season beginning, the Crookston Fire Department is reminding the public of a few safety tips to ensure you stay safe this Holiday season.
Christmas Tree fires are uncommon; however, they are more likely to be serious when they do occur. Crookston Firefighter Brian Hanson provided a few tips to be safe this Holiday season. “When choosing a Christmas tree, we want you to choose a tree that has fresh green needles on the end of it,” said Hanson. “This will help with the tree initially with making sure the tree isn’t too dry, to begin with. When you place the tree in the stand, we ask you to cut two inches off it. This will keep the tree alive because the water will be able to get up from the tree’s base much easier. Another important thing to remember is to keep the tree at least 3-5 feet away from any heat source such as lights, fireplaces, candles, and heat vents.”
Other important things to keep in mind are making sure the tree isn’t blocking any exits so you can easily find a way out of your home in the event of an emergency. Watering your tree frequently is also critical to ensure the tree doesn’t die and pose a fire hazard. Hanson suggests checking the tree once in the morning and at night to see if more water should be added. One last reminder with Christmas tree safety is making sure you use lights that are meant to be hung on Christmas trees.
The second Holiday safety tip Hanson provided has to do with holiday decorating. “We’re going to ask people to choose decorations that are flame resistant, if possible,” said Hanson. If you’re going to use candles, we ask that they’re kept away from decorations and things that can burn. Knowing what lights can be used indoors and outdoors is also something to be aware of. There should be a tag on every set of lights that shows whether they can be used inside or outside.”
Other precautions that can be taken to avoid fires from inside your home this year include keeping matches away from children by keeping them locked or in high cabinets and keeping your pets away from any lit candles throughout the house.
For more information and facts on holiday safety, you can go to www.nfpa.org/education.
