December 13, 2004 – To reduce the chance of a holiday tragedy, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is urging homeowners to thoroughly water their Christmas tree daily.

If a tree has already become too dry, State Fire Marshal Andy Neumann says to remove the tree from the home.

"When a Christmas tree catches fire there are literally only seconds to escape safely," said Neumann. “Removing a dry tree and subsequently the chance for a deadly fire to occur is easier to live with than the consequences such as the loss of your home, or even worse, family members. A Christmas tree is replaceable – but your loved ones are not so don’t take the risks.”

The OSFM asks consumers to follow these tips for Christmas tree safety:

·         When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree will not catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

·         When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

·         When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

·         Christmas trees should be checked daily and at the first sign of dryness be removed from the home. The drier the tree, the greater the fire hazard.

To see a video of how a Christmas tree fire can spread in a matter of seconds, click on this link from the National Institute of Standards and Technology:

http://www.exeternh.org/fire/christmas_tree_fire_video2.htm

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