Be Careful Taking Down Christmas Trees, Lights, Says NFPA
The Christmas holiday is now moving past us, the tree is swiftly losing its coat of green, and the needles are piling up on the floor, which means it’s time to remove the tree from your home.
With that in mind, the National Fire Protection Association is reminding people about removing Christmas trees from the home and doing so safely.
NFPA statistics indicate that nearly 40 percent of home fires that begin with Christmas trees occur in January.
The NFPA said that although these fires are not common, they are much more likely to be serious when they do occur.
On average, one of every 31 reported home structure Christmas tree fires resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 144 total reported home structure fires.
NFPA officials said that the longer the tree remains in the home, the greater the fire risk becomes.
If available, NFPA recommends using the local community’s recycling program for tree disposal, noting that trees should not be put in the garage or left outside.
The NFPA also offers tips on removing lighting and decorations from trees to ensure they are taken down safely this year and in the right condition for Christmas 2016.
Those include:
- Use the gripping area on the plug when unplugging electrical decorations. Never pull the cord to unplug any device from an electrical outlet, as this can harm the wire and insulation of the cord, increasing the risk for shock or electrical fire.
- As you pack up light strings, inspect each line for damage, throwing out any sets that have loose connections, broken sockets or cracked or bare wires.
- Wrap each set of lights and put them in individual plastic bags, or wrap them around a piece of cardboard.
- Store electrical decorations in a dry place away from children and pets where they will not be damaged by water or dampness.