Orange County Fire Rescue will host a Christmas tree media safety demonstration to illustrate the fire hazards of a dried-out Christmas tree and holiday safety tips on how to prevent home fires.
People routinely buy their trees around Thanksgiving, and if not kept watered, they can dry out and become a fire hazard. An average of 200 house fires per year were reported from 2011-2015 in the U.S. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), four of every five Christmas tree fires occurred in December or January. Although these fires aren’t common, when they do occur, they’re more likely to be deadly. On average, one of every 32 reported home structure Christmas tree fires resulted in a death, as compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home structure fires.
The NFPA recommends watering your tree daily and making sure it is at least three feet from any heat source like fireplaces, candles, heat vents or lights. When decorating, use only lights that are approved by a recognized testing laboratory and replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Do not exceed the manufacturer’s directions when connecting light strands together. Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and make sure to turn off the lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
LIVE CHRISTMAS TREE MEDIA SAFETY DEMONSTRATION
11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18,
Orange County Fire Rescue Fire Training Facility,
2976 Forsyth Rd.
Winter Park, FL 32792
eOrange County Fire Rescue is the largest fire and rescue department in Central Florida. Follow them on Twitter at @OCFireRescue.
