PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. — With several types of Christmas trees out on the market, many people still choose to display real firs or pines.
When picking out a live tree, Peoria Heights Fire Chief, Greg Walters, said to check it before you buy it.
“Run your hands around the branches, and if you have a lot of the pine needles fall off, the tree is already dry and you do not want that,” Walters said. “If you grab one of those needles and pinch it, if it springs back and doesn’t break, its got plenty of moisture in it.”
The base of the tree trunk should be cut at an angle, for more surface area to absorb the water while on display. Walters said to make sure it has plenty of water.
“Look at it two or three times a day, it will absorb the water,” Walters said.
While stringing lights and placing ornaments on the tree, Walters recommends check the base of the tree.
“If you have a lot of needles on the ground, that thing is drying out fast,” Walters said.
Live Christmas trees can be aesthetically beautiful and provide a classic holiday aroma, however Walters said they are like solid gasoline.
“A dry Christmas tree, all it needs is a spark, and once it ignites it burns very quickly, and very fast, and extremely hot, and the fire will spread rapidly,” Walters said.
It only takes a matter of seconds for an ignited Christmas tree to spread to the rest of the room.
It is important to make sure all electrical items on and around the tree are up to code and in good shape, and the tree should not be placed near anything with an open flame or space heaters.
Once a dry tree ignites, Walters said there is no way to put it out yourself.
“Your job at that point is to evacuate. Get everybody out of your house safely, 911, get the fire department responding, and make sure that everyone is accounted for,” Walters said. “Have information ready for the fire department when they get on the scene. That will help them get it extinguished as fast as possible.”
That information includes, where the tree is located in the house, what was under the tree, and if everyone is evacuated from the house.
The same ideas go for live Christmas wreaths inside a home.
“It’s smaller in size, but it will also burn very vigorously. And depending on where you have it located, there could be things around it that it would fall on and create a big fire as well,” Walters said.
Walters said to treat it just like any other live plant in your house.
“During this time of weather, it’s basically dry. Humidity has lowered. And as it lowers, it’s going to absorb the moisture that’s in the tree, and cause it to dry out faster,” Walters said. “So you’ve got to keep an eye on it.”
