Happy (And Safe) Holidays, Houston!

Posted on: December 2, 2020
By: Alan O'Neill
Posted in: Press Releases

The Holiday season has begun and the tree trimming and eggnog are just around the corner. Many of us are setting up our holiday decorations and Christmas trees. To some, that means the annual trip to the christmas tree farm or local garden center to get a fresh pine. Others may be digging around in attics looking for the tree in the box from last year. Either way, Houstonians need to be aware of extra precautions to have a safe holiday. The Houston Chronicle has recently published an article regarding fire safety and trees.

Experts give tips on how to avoid Christmas tree fires this holiday season

Having a real Christmas tree can make the holiday season all the merrier, but having it go up in flames won’t. That’s why experts are sharing a few tips to keep your trees safe.

“Keep your tree well watered this holiday season,” is the message from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this season. The commission released data this week cataloguing the number of deaths that have occurred from tree fires over the last few years.

“From 2015 to 2017, on average, there were about 100 Christmas tree fires and about 1,100 candle fires (in November and December), resulting in 20 deaths, 160 injuries and nearly $50 million in property damage each year,” according to CPSC.

According to a study by Koen van Gelder with statista.com, in 2019, Americans bought 26.2 million real Christmas trees.

While there is room to debate whether having a real tree is better than having a fake one, experts at CPSC recommend following a few safety tips to avoid a holiday disaster.

CPSC tips include keeping the tree watered regularly, checking lights for broken or cracked sockets and avoiding putting candles on unstable surfaces. Testing smoke alarms and keeping your tree away from any heat source is recommended.

“Even after Christmas, keep it well watered until you drag it to the curb,” Buerkle told ABC News.

So if that fresh pine scent is calling your name this holiday season, make sure to follow the CPSC tips above to make this season free of hazards.

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