Christmas Trees can Pose a Fire Hazard Without Proper Care

It’s no secret that many homes in Atlanta have already gotten into the holiday spirit by putting up their Christmas trees. However, as men, women and children hang up lights and deck the halls, it’s easy to forget about how simple it is for a fire to start. Often times, carelessness that could cause major property damage may result from failing to follow a few simple tips on how to prevent your tree from catching on fire.

In fact, the National Fire Protection Agency, an international nonprofit dedicated to fire prevention, reported that fire departments across the United States are called to approximately 250 homes every year to attend to incidents that involve holiday trees.

Luckily, there are some things that you can do to ensure that your family is safe this season. Fire departments across the country recommend:

1) Watering your tree regularly

The stump of your tree should always be immersed in water. Letting it dry out increases the chances of it catching ablaze.

2) Prohibiting smoking near trees

If you want to smoke, make sure you do so away from your Christmas trees. The needles on that Douglas Fir you have in your living room are extremely flammable.

3) Keeping your tree away from the heater

The U.S. Fire Association advises that trees be kept away from heating sources like fireplaces or heat vents. The heat from both of these will remove moisture from the tree which increases the chance of it igniting.

Along with following these recommendations, it’s also critical that you make sure that you have a fire alarm monitoring system. If you don’t have one and would like to know more about fire alarm installation, consider contacting Alarm American. We understand the importance of keeping your family safe during the holidays. Feel free to call us at (770) 645-0061 or log onto our website, www.americanalarm.net.