Are You Using This Simple, Well-Known Trick To Prevent Christmas Tree Fires?

Christmas tree fires cause several deaths each year. Of course, there's an easy way to help keep our trees from turning into beautifully decorated kindling. And most of us even know this simple trick. But are you actually doing it?

Knowing you should do something and actually doing it are two different things. We know we should drink plenty of water, eat healthy foods, floss every day... the list goes on and on. But how often do we just skip over these good habits?

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Whether it's because we forget, run out of time, or just plain don't feel like doing it, it's human nature to do the opposite of what we're told we should do. (See Genesis, if you don't believe me!)

This is why the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a powerful reminder of how to protect your home from Christmas tree fires.

Dramatic Safety Video Seeks To Prevent Christmas Tree Fires

When bringing a real tree into your home for the Christmas season, it's very important to keep it watered. Without water, the Christmas tree starts drying out, becoming flammable kindling just waiting to go up in flames.

The fix is simple -- keep your Christmas tree watered. But it's one of those simple tasks that easily gets forgotten, overlooked, or dismissed. 

The video from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission shows two similar room side-by-side. In one room, the Christmas tree is regularly watered. The other tree isn't. And while the two trees look nearly identical at first, there's an obvious difference once safety experts set fires at the bases of each tree.

In a matter of seconds, the dry tree goes up in flames, whereas the watered tree keeps the flames small and contained. And while the video may seem overly dramatic to some, all it takes is a broken bulb, a frayed wire, or an unattended candle and the same could happen in real-life.

 "A dry Christmas tree burns faster than newspaper," the safety commission warned. 

So, make sure to water your Christmas tree daily for as long as it is in your home. And here are some other safety tips to use.

Tips For Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

1. Check your Christmas lights for any cracks or broken sockets. The older the lights, the higher the chances they could be damaged and therefore at-risk of producing a spark. Make sure you're using LED bulbs because halogen lights generate a lot more heat.
2. Unplug all Christmas lights when you're not home or when you go to bed.
3. Keep your Christmas tree away from any kind of heat source.
4. Don't put any candles near your tree. Also, don't leave burning candles unattended or place them on unstable surfaces where they are likely to fall.
5. Check to be sure your fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Keep a fire extinguisher and first aid kit on hand in your home.

h/t: CNET

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