As the holiday season approaches, many households embrace the tradition of adorning a Christmas tree as the centerpiece of festive decorations. While the twinkling lights and ornaments enhance the magical atmosphere, it’s crucial to prioritize safety amid celebratory fervor.
It’s easy to overlook the potential fire hazards lurking within the festive foliage. Whether genuine or artificial, a Christmas tree can be a fire hazard if not handled cautiously. Knowing how to fireproof your Christmas tree helps protect your home while preserving the joyous ambiance of the season.
This guide will shed light on the tips for fireproofing your Christmas tree, creating a secure and magical environment for the season’s celebrations. Let’s jump in!
What Causes Christmas Tree Fire?
Christmas tree fires are caused by different factors, with the main culprit being a dry tree. As the tree dries out, its needles become highly combustible, endangering those nearby. Electrical issues contribute greatly to these fires, primarily when using defective lights or overloading electrical outlets.
Let’s discuss each point in detail:
- Extension Cords: Extension cords are not designed for long-term use. Using this gadget to light your Christmas tree is unsafe as it can overheat cords after maximum use and cause a fire. Overloading extension cords or outlets can also start a Christmas tree fire. It would help to use a power strip rather than one or more extension cords.
Power strips can support several appliances, such as strings of lights or Christmas decorations. Ensure you examine all cords on your Christmas tree lights and any power strips for signs of wear and tear.
- Pre-lit Artificial Trees: Pre-lit artificial trees present electrical shock hazards and fire risks from exposed wiring or improperly plugged-in cords. Avoid fire hazards by inspecting cords for physical damage.
- Dried-out Tree: Real trees are particularly vulnerable to fires. They are not flame-resistant and can set your home ablaze in no time. A dried-out tree is among the leading causes of real tree fires. You can avoid such fires by checking water levels regularly and refilling water as needed.
- Plugged-in lights: Most homeowners and renters keep their Christmas trees in their living rooms. Guess what is left unsupervised and plugged into the wall? Your Christmas tree lights! Even artificial Christmas trees can ignite when the lights get hot. Therefore, unplug the lights before bed as you would switch off the kitchen light.
- Heat: Placing your Christmas tree near heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, or heating vents increases the risk of a fire because the extra heat expedites tree drying. Also, using decorations that are not flame-resistant or placing candles next to the tree poses a fire risk.
How Do You Extinguish a Christmas Tree Fire?
Despite your best efforts, your Christmas tree can still go up in flames from popping fireplace embers, an electrical wiring spark, or a candle flame. When this inevitable time comes, you must act swiftly to prevent your home from burning. Here’s what to do in the event of a Christmas tree fire:
- Safety First: Prioritize your safety and those in the vicinity. Ask everyone to leave the area immediately and call the fire brigade if the fire is uncontrollable.
- Use a fire extinguisher: If the fire is just getting started, grab a multipurpose extinguisher, pull the pin at the top of the canister, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever to discharge the extinguishing agent, and sweep from side to side. A fire extinguisher is handy for fighting early-stage fires before they get out of control.
- Watering the Tree: For real trees, use a large bucket of water to put out the flames. Ensure thorough coverage until the fire dies down.
- Fire blanket: If the fire is in its early stages, unbox your fire blanket and place it over the fire to deprive it of oxygen. Doing so prevents the flames from spreading to adjacent areas or nearby flammable items.
- Avoid watering lights: If the fire involves electrical components, don’t use water, as this might trigger an electrical shock. Instead, use a fire extinguisher rated for electrical fires.
How to Fireproof Your Christmas Tree
Nothing beats the smell of a genuine Christmas tree during the holiday season. Most people’s tradition is to purchase Christmas trees, which add ambiance to any setting. However, Christmas trees pose a fire hazard if safety measures are overlooked.
It’s easy to fireproof your Christmas tree, especially if you observe the tips outlined below:
- Select the Right Tree
If you opt for an artificial Christmas tree, choose a fire-resistant one. Although the fire-resistant label on a tree doesn’t mean it is entirely immune to fires, fire-rated Christmas trees delay to catch fire.
If using a real Christmas tree, ensure the tree you pick is of quality and freshness. Check for needle resilience by gently bending them. They must not break easily or fall off when touched.
- Mix Ingredients
Mix 2 gallons of hot water, 2 cups of clear Karo Syrup, 2 ounces of Chlorine Bleach, 2 teaspoons of Epsom salt, 1 teaspoon of Chelated Iron, and ½ teaspoon of Borax. Use a two-gallon bucket and fill it with hot water. Ensure the water doesn’t exceed an inch from the top. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir the solution until everything dissolves.
Cut a small slab, roughly one inch thick, from the base of the trunk of the Christmas tree. You do this to open a fresh layer to the tree’s stem for proper feeding. Make sure your cut is flat and even. After cutting a section of the trunk of the Christmas tree, place your tree into the bucket of solution and let it sit for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, place your Christmas tree in its tree stand reservoir with a watering well. Pour the remaining solution from the soaking bucket into your tree stand, watering well until it is full. Doing this ensures the pores in the tree trunk don’t seal. The syrup provides sugar, and only when it is available will the tree absorb lots of water.
The borax helps the water to travel all the way through the tree system. The Epsom salt and iron help maintain the needles’ green color and keep them fresh. On the other hand, bleach prevents mold from forming when water and sugar mix.
A real Christmas tree will drink numerous gallons of water over the duration they are up in your home. As such, you should check the water level regularly (preferably in the morning and when you go to bed). Also, keep your tree safe from heat sources like space heaters, as heat from these devices can dry out the tree, rendering it susceptible to fire.
Preventing Christmas Tree Fires
The following proactive measures can help prevent a Christmas tree fire to guarantee a joyful holiday season.
- Pick a Fresh-Looking Tree
Fresh trees are unlikely to catch fire. So, if you are considering a Christmas tree, choose one with green needles. Brownish needles mean the tree is highly combustible because it’s scorched. You can also differentiate fresh and dry trees by handling the foliage. A fresh tree has soft and flexible needles that hardly fall off, while a dry one has needles that break or fall off easily.
- Water Your Trees
Constant moisture is essential because a dried-out Christmas tree is a disaster recipe. Be sure to water your Christmas tree regularly to stay consistently moist. Keep the reservoir filled to ensure the tree’s stump never dries.
- Choose Flame-Resistant Decorations
Only use decorations rated as flame-resistant or flame-retardant, as these materials withstand fires for a long duration, preventing your home from being set aflame. Also, never use candles next to your Christmas trees, as this is an obvious fire hazard.
- Proper Location
Avoid placing your Christmas tree near your home’s heater vents. Doing this keeps your tree from drying and eventually catching fire. Never leave any Christmas lights on overnight or unsupervised, as they might overheat and ignite.
- Use LED Lights
Use LED lights rather than traditional incandescent bulbs because LED lights produce less heat, minimizing the risk of the tree drying out and igniting. Before decorating, examine lights for damage, frayed wires, or loose connections to guarantee safety.
- Check Electrical Outlets
Do not overload electrical outlets. Check that the lights and other electrical decorations are in excellent condition. Use power strips with surge protection and consult the manufacturer’s instructions for safe usage.
What Is the Best Way to Burn a Christmas Tree?
After gifts are unwrapped and the decorations taken down, you remain with a tree to dispose of. So, what is the best way to burn a Christmas tree? While it’s not recommended to burn Christmas trees due to the fire risks associated with it, you can do so if you comply with these tips for safe outdoor burning:
- Check local ordinances for county burn bans and requirements for outdoor burning.
- Only burn your Christmas tree if significant rainfall has occurred in the last 4 or 5 days.
- Avoid burning the tree on dry or windy days.
- Choose a burn site roughly 25 feet from natural areas, 25 feet from your house, 150 feet from adjacent buildings, and 50 feet from any paved, public roadway.
- Remove any decorations from the tree before burning it.
- Cut the Christmas tree into manageable sections.
- Clear the burning site of combustible materials like pine straw.
- Have a water hose and a shovel in case the fire escapes containment.
- Don’t leave the fire unattended; ensure it dies completely before leaving the burn area.
- Avoid burning the Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove.
Here are safer ways to dispose of a Christmas tree:
- Chip It Up for Mulch
Chop up your Christmas tree and feed it to a wood chipper. You’ll have mulch to spread around your landscaping or line your garden paths. A shredded Christmas tree can insulate plants throughout the winter, help retain moisture in the soil, and help with foiling weeds in the spring.
- Insulate Plants
Trim the boughs off the Christmas tree and place them over plants that are vulnerable to extreme weather, like harsh winds. The sheltering limbs will protect these plants during winter and early spring frosts.
- Compost It
Use your Christmas tree to supplement your garden soil. Your Christmas tree has thin branches, useful for a new compost pile. Just trim the branches of your tree so they fit in the bin, then stack them 4-6 inches high. After that, add your kitchen scraps and other compostables.
- Transform It Into Pathway-Edging
Don’t need compost? No worries. Chop your Christmas tree trunk into 2-inch discs and use these to line up your walkways. You can use small branches as edging to add visual appeal to your landscaping.
- Make a Home for Fish
If you reside near a pond, sink your Christmas tree into the water to establish a welcoming habitat for fish. The branches give the fish a place to take cover. However, ensure your tree is free of flocking material that can harm wildlife.
- Feed the Birds
Your old Christmas tree can make an excellent winter home for birds. Ensure it’s free of ornaments and tinsel, then place it in a stand in your yard. Provide sustenance to the birds by decorating the tree with pinecone bird feeders.
Can You Burn a Christmas Tree In the Fire Pit?
Your Christmas tree is suitable for an outdoor fire. Cut off the branches and use them as kindling and the trunk as logs. Pine should not be burned indoors because its creosote content results in a sticky, sooty fireplace. However, it’s great for keeping you toasty when you enjoy winter evenings outside.
It’s worth noting that burning your Christmas tree in a fire pit also has downsides, including:
- Fire pit overload: Christmas trees produce intense heat when burned, surpassing the safe operating temperature of a standard fire pit. This can result in structural damage, jeopardizing the fire pit’s integrity and presenting additional safety risks.
- Rapid ignition and sparks: Dry Christmas trees tend to ignite quickly. The needles and branches have combustible oils, rendering them vulnerable to quick combustion. Burning a tree in a fire pit generates sparks that can ignite nearby flammable objects.
How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last All Season
You found your desired Christmas tree; now you only have to ensure it survives until Christmas day. Fortunately, with these tips, keeping your Christmas tree fresh is straightforward.
- Choose the Right Tree
Choose the right tree and shake it well before leaving the lot. Only a few needles should fall if the Christmas tree is fresh. Although the loss of some brown needles is usual, fallen green needles indicate that the tree is dry.
- Make a Fresh Cut
Before placing the tree in its stand, trim a little off the bottom. Make a straight cut, removing a bit of the wood from the base of the trunk. Without this cut, your Christmas tree will dry out from the inability to absorb water properly.
- Add Water Instantly
After arriving home, put your Christmas tree in the water immediately. If not ready to decorate, put it in a bucket of water and let it sit until ready. The tree will absorb excess water in the first 24 hours, so regularly check and refill the water.
- Invest In a High-Grade Tree Stand
Get a tree stand that appropriately fits the Christmas tree and can hold a gallon or more water. Inspect the stand periodically for maintenance to ensure the water level stays above the tree’s base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are Christmas Tree Fires Dangerous?
A Christmas tree fire hazard is an unfortunate reality and is extremely dangerous. Recent research shows that one out of 52 reported house fires triggered by a Christmas tree resulted in death.
Q2. How Fast Can Christmas Tree Fires Spread?
In controlled tests, researchers discovered that a dried-out Christmas tree can be engulfed within 10 seconds. Flashover happens almost one minute after an unwatered tree catches fire. Well-watered trees prevent flames from spreading past one section of burning branches.
Q3. Can I Use Indoor Christmas Tree Lights Outdoors?
Well, it depends on whether or not the Christmas tree lights have been rated for use in wet conditions. If your lights are not sealed against moisture, they’ll cease functioning after heavy rains.
Conclusion
Although Christmas tree fires are uncommon, the ensuing damage can be severe, so knowing how to fireproof your Christmas tree is important. To make your Christmas tree fire-resistant, mix 2 gallons of hot water, 2 cups Karo syrup, ½ cup borax, 1 teaspoon of Chelated Iron, 2 teaspoons of Epsom salt, and 2 ounces of Chlorine Bleach.
Mix this solution thoroughly until all ingredients dissolve. Cut a one-inch thick slab from the base of the trunk of your tree. Place your Christmas tree into the solution in a bucket and let it soak for at least 24 hours.
After that, put the tree in its stand and position it so it’s ready for decoration. Pour the remaining solution into the water well of your Christmas tree stand. Check the stand daily to ensure it has water. If not, refill as needed.