Decking the halls shouldn't result in a home fire, potentially risking everything a family has. That's why Hall County Fire Services encourages residents in the holiday spirit to be cautious how they decorate this and every year, from choosing where to put a new Christmas tree, carefully stringing up lights inside and out, to cozying up near a roaring fire.
Whether you prefer a fresh Douglas fir, or a pre-lit tinsel tree, Brackett said every tree carries a risk. Since live trees are naturally flammable, Brackett said it is important to keep the tree watered.
"A lot of folks end up putting their tree in a place that's in front of a window so they can show it off to their neighbors, but frequently they end up fairly close to the fireplace. That actually contributes to the drying of the tree, especially if you have a fire in the fireplace," said Brackett. "With any kind of Christmas tree, real or fake, you want to make sure it stays at least three feet away from any kind of heat source."
Brackett said heat sources include fireplaces, space heaters, vents and lit candles; a tree too close to a heat source causes one out of four home tree fires.
As well as maintaining proper hydration for a tree, he said it's important check for browning and excessive needle loss on a live tree.
While LED technology has helped cut back on string light fires, as the LEDs don't get hot like a traditional bulb, Brackett said real tree , artificial trees, and anything using a string light is still at a risk for fire because of circuit overload.
"People use power strips and those little blocks that allow you to plug like six things into one outlet, and even with the lower power draw of LED lights now, it still can cause problems in your electrical system," Brackett said. "One of every four Christmas tree fires is caused by an electrical problem - that's a statistic from the United States Fire Administration."
While uncommon, those types of fires tend to be serious, Brackett said. He encouraged using a high quality, name-brand power strip.
He also warned that while an extension cord can be useful, it needs to be used properly. While this can be the unattractive solution, Brackett said trying to hide or cover up an extension cord - indoors or outdoors - not only creates a trip hazard, but also puts it at risk to be stepped on, which can degrade the wiring inside the cord.
Those displaying lights outside should check to make sure the cords are meant for outdoor use, and ensure their circuits are not overloaded. Brackett said to check extension cords and other electrical materials each year before the lights are put up.
"Stuffing it back in the box and not being careful how we store these components can really impact the fire hazards, just from the extension cord and the electrical components," Brackett said.
Menorahs burning through the night should follow the same practice as a lit candle in a window or accenting a room.
"Any open fire, any heating source... keep any kind of flammable material at least three feet away from that heat source."
That goes for things like curtains, upholstery and pillows, too.
Brackett suggested leaving the candle in a place where you would notice it if you left the room, as well as leaving plenty of clearance, including the bottom and top of the candle.
"More than a third of home decoration fires are started by candles, and the top three days for home candle fires is Christmas Day, New Year's Day and New Year's Eve," Brackett said.
He also warned some candle centerpieces have plastic pieces, and he said to check for flammable items, or if the centerpiece was merely decorative and not meant to be lit at all.
The stockings may be hung by the chimney with care, but Brackett said they should be removed prior to lighting a fire.
"It's a great scene, it's beautiful, but it is a fire hazard. Even if you get some that say they're fire retardant, that just means it's not going to catch fire immediately. Over time, and with heat, that degrades over time and it is definitely a fire hazard."
And, Brackett said by this time of year a chimney should have been inspected and swept for the season, to prevent a chimney fire.
