Christmas tree safety
Christmas trees are a very real fire hazard. When selecting your tree, make sure to pick one that is fresh. A fresh tree’s needles will not easily fall off, and its trunk will be sticky to the touch. A good test of tree freshness is to bounce the tree trunk on the ground and look for loose needles. If your tree drops a large number of needles, then it has probably been cut too long, is dried out, and is a potential fire hazard.
Do not place your tree near a fireplace or other heat source, such as a baseboard heater (see photo, right). Trees should not be left up for more than two weeks, and their stands should be kept filled with water to prevent drying.
Tree lights should not be left on unattended, as they can pose a fire danger.
When discarding your tree, do not attempt to burn branches or needles. Dispose of your tree at a recycling center or have it hauled away by a community pick-up service.
