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Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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Holiday lights hold hidden dangers
Published November 27, 2009
SEGUIN — Fire Marshal Greg Dreiss will engage in some dangerous behavior today, and he’s betting he’s not the only one.
Many of us will do something today or soon that will make our homes much more susceptible to fire, and we’ll also be doing things that dramatically increases the danger of serious bodily injury.
Will you?
You might be, if you’re putting up your holiday lights or bringing a Christmas tree into your home today.
Putting up a Christmas tree and holiday lights, which for many has become a tradition as certain as holiday shopping on the day after Thanksgiving, brings plenty of people to emergency rooms this time of year.
Each year, the National Fire Prevention Association says an average of 210 home fires are caused by Christmas trees, which are a mainstay of holiday cheer for many of the millions of families who decorate their homes each year. Those fires will result in at least 15 deaths and perhaps $20 million in property damage. Most of those fires will be caused by a tree that’s been allowed to dry out. About 40 percent of them will be related to electrical issues — most pertaining to holiday lights.
“When you start to put up Christmas lights, make sure you do everything in moderation,” Dreiss said.
Each year, local fire departments will respond to calls for people injured when they fell off of a roof or a ladder, Dreiss said.
“On the day after Thanksgiving, when everybody’s trying to put their lights up, use caution,” Dreiss said. “Climbing a ladder’s not as easy as it looks.”
Be sure also, Dreiss said, to use the right kind of ladder for the job — and the right length. Most ladders manufactured today have warning signs on them detailing their safe use — in particular how high one should climb the ladder.
Wooden and fiberglass ladders are best when working around electricity. Even “mini” lights can carry enough electrical current to cause shock or serious injury.
“Never string together more lights than what the manufacturer recommends,” Dreiss said.
Inspect each item for frayed or broken wires, bent prongs, cracked sockets, burnt-out lights and similar problems and repair or replace as needed with new Underwriters Laboratories-listed equipment. If you’re using lights outside, be sure to only use UL-listed products rated for outdoor use. Don’t overload outlets or extension cords.
Turn off all lights and decorations before leaving or before going to bed, Dreiss said.
Seguin Fire Chief Scott MyCue has cut a few Christmas trees in his time, and he said it is very important to pay attention to what a tree will require for water.
The NFPA recommends that a natural tree stays up no longer than about four weeks, meaning if it goes up this weekend, it needs to come down immediately after Christmas.
“If you go out and get a natural tree, make sure you keep it in a tree stand and in water,” MyCue said. “We recommend a stand that can hold a gallon of water.”
Smaller trees require stands with capacity to hold at least one quart of water for each inch of trunk diameter, MyCue said. If you buy the tree somewhere, make sure to inspect the stump of the tree. You’ll need room to cut off the bottom couple of inches so that the tree will be able to pull water from its stand.
“It could glaze over with sap,” MyCue said. “Double-check to make sure the bottom hasn’t sealed itself. If it has, re-trim it.”
Once the tree is in its stand, carefully monitor its water use. If the bottom is not glazed over, a six-foot tree can use as much as a gallon of water a day. Regularly inspect the needles for moisture. If you can bend a needle in half, the tree is still OK. If the needles snap and break, the tree is too dry.
Do not place the tree where it blocks an exit route or within three feet of curtains. Keep it at least three feet from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, space heaters or heating vents.
Never, ever decorate a Christmas tree with candles and never have candles near the tree.
“Make sure candles are on stable holders, away from anything that can burn such as curtains, drapes or fabrics and placed so they are not likely to be accidentally knocked over,” MyCue said. “And never put them on the Christmas tree. I know back in the old days, they put them on the tree, but we frown on that now.”
Always extinguish candles before leaving or going to sleep. Never burn branches trimmed from the tree in the fireplace. Evergreen needles are acidic and the sparks can be dangerous. Likewise, MyCue said, do not burn holiday wrapping papers in the fireplace or in a wood stove. You don’t know what’s in the paper, MyCue said. Some are treated with chemicals that can rapidly burn or explode. Others produce unhealthy gasses.
When it comes to Christmas lights, electric bulbs or candles or other similar decorations, make sure to use only products that are listed by Underwriters Laboratories, MyCue said. Look for the tag with the UL listing.
Another good idea — particularly for those who have gas furnaces or appliances — is to be sure to have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, Dreiss said.
And they’re not a bad idea even if you don’t have a gas appliance.
“There are untold things that can bring carbon monoxide into a home,” Dreiss said. “Carbon monoxide detectors start at around $20.”
A smoke detector can be acquired for free by those who live in Seguin and need a little help.
“We want everyone to have smoke detectors, and we’ll install them as quickly as we can if you call us at 830-401-2310 or 830-401-2315,” MyCue said.
Firefighters install them on Saturdays as time and emergency calls permit.
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