Ocala firefighters are encouraging residents to promptly remove their Christmas trees to help minimize the risk of a house fire.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Ocala Fire Rescue stated that residents should “keep the memories of the holiday season and remove the hazards.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly one-third (30%) of all home fires in the United States involving Christmas trees occur in the month of January.
“The longer a natural tree is kept up after Christmas, the more likely it is to dry out,” stated NFPA. The nonprofit organization added that a dried-out tree can become engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds.
Between 2016 and 2020, NFPA’s report on Christmas tree fires showed that 160 residential structure fires began with Christmas trees, resulting in two civilian deaths, 11 civilian injuries, and approximately $12 million in property damage.
According to the report, Christmas tree-related fires are a “very small but notable part of the U.S. fire problem, considering they are generally in use for a short time each year.”
Some Christmas tree fires occur in chimneys or flues, which suggests that some individuals attempt to dispose of their trees by burning them.
“Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove!” cautions the U.S. Forest Service. “Pines, firs and other evergreens have a high content of flammable turpentine oils and burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup and risk a chimney fire.”
In order to safely dispose of a Christmas tree, NFPA recommends using a local recycling program, if possible. Trees should not be put in a garage or left outside.
NFPA also recommends the following safety tips for removing lights and decorations to ensure that they remain in good condition next holiday season:
- Use the gripping area on the plug when unplugging electrical decorations. Do not pull the cord to unplug any device from an electrical outlet, as this can harm the wire and insulation of the cord, which increases the risk for shock or electrical fire.
- When packing light strings, inspect each line for damage, and throw out any sets that have loose connections, broken sockets, or cracked or bare wires.
- Wrap each set of lights and put them in individual plastic bags or wrap them around a piece of cardboard.
- Store electrical decorations in a dry place away from children and pets where they will not be damaged by water or dampness.
For more information, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website.