11:12am | Decorating homes is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these same decorations may increase your chances of fire. Each year, approximately 400 fires involving decorated trees and holiday lights result in approximately 20 deaths and $25 million in direct property damage nationwide.

Help ensure that you have a safe holiday season by following these helpful tips:

Selecting a fresh tree 

  • Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut.
  • The trunk should be sticky to the touch.
  • Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard. 

Caring for your tree  

  • Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent.
  • Do not drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.
  • Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up longer than two weeks.
  • Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Tree lighting

  • Inspect your holiday lights each year for frayed wires, wear and tear, etc.
  • Use only lights that have been listed by an approved testing laboratory.
  • On your tree, only use lights designated for inside tree use.
  • Do not use excessive lighting – consult the packaging for the maximum amount of lights that can be strung together.
  • Never leave lights on unattended.

Tree Safety

  • Use only non-flammable decorations.
  • Never use real candles on a tree.   Artificial trees
  • Make sure any metallic or artificial tree is flame retardant.

Disposing of your tree 

  • Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.
  • When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly.
  • For information about free tree pick-up service, or drop-off locations, visit www.longbeach-recycles.org.

  Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  • Install smoke alarms and CO Detectors in your home and test them regularly.
  • Change batteries at least twice a year.