It’s Christmas time again and a time for family and friend’s to come together to share the joy of the season. It’s a time for Mom’s, Dad’s, and kids of all ages to decorate homes with lights and wreath’s in hopes of spreading joy to everyone. But with this season comes an increasing risk for electrical fires in the home. The Princeton City Firefighters have put together some safety tips to keep in mind this Christmas season, in hopes that the joy of the season is not dampened due to a needless fire in your home.

1) Keep all fresh cut Christmas trees watered daily to ensure that the tree does not dry out. Christmas tree’s, if ignited, take less than 1 minute to be completely consumed by fire. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (N.I.S.T) the heat release rate of a burning Christmas tree when dry is greater than that of gasoline or kerosene.

2) Keep all Christmas trees well away from any heat source such as wall heaters, fireplaces, and woodstoves etc. Trees that are placed to close to a heat source will dry out even if they are being watered on a daily basis.

3) The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires that all artificial Christmas trees must be certified by the manufactures to be flame retardant or flame resistant. If you have an artificial tree check the tag on the tree or on the box to see if the tree meets this certification, if it does not please don’t use it.

4) Before adding the lights to your Christmas tree inspect all lights for nicks in the wiring, melted places, and/or bulbs that may be broken or loose. All of these problems may create an unsafe electrical hazard.

5) Make sure that a testing company such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) whether inside or outside, approves all lights. This ensures that the lights have been tested and proven for their intended use.

6) Never string more than 3 sets of lights together at one time. If more than 3 sets are needed, be sure to use more than one electrical outlet to power your lights. If not, this could pose another electrical hazard called overloading.

7) Once the tree is put up in your home be sure to secure it in its stand. In the event the now decorated Christmas tree turns over in your living room floor, you may run the risk of an electrical short occurring thus causing a fire.

These few safety tips are just a start to having a safe and happy Christmas season. Read and follow all manufactures directions concerning Christmas lights. If small children are present in your home be mindful of small ornaments hanging on your tree. These could create a choking hazard for those little nosy angles. The firefighters of the Princeton Fire Department hope that this Christmas season brings everyone joy and peace this year as well many more to come. Remember fire takes no holidays and it has no mercy on those it decides to visit. Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you from the Princeton City Fire Department.

Keith A. Gunnoe

5 yr. Firefighter

Princeton City Fire Department