Comments on: Fire Safety and the Holiday Season

By: Condo Blues

Condo Blues — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:53:09 +0000

I didn't realize how fast a dry Christmas tree blazed up until seeing it at a summer BBQ. The host has a big fire pit on a patio far from his house. During the evening he made everyone stand even farther back from it when it put their winter Christmas tree on the coals. Granted it had been drying in a side yard from January to that summer but it the speed and whoosh! of flame once that tree caught fire was scary if something like that happened inside a house. .-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..Sparkly Glam Recycled Outdoor Christmas Décor =-.

By: Katie in MA

Katie in MA — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:58:46 +0000

Okay, this is probably a silly question, but how hard would it be to ignite a fake tree? Are they flame retardant (like children's sleepwear)? Is it as difficult to light on fire as a well-maintained live tree? You sparked my curiosity! .-= Katie in MA´s last blog ..Officially Christmastime. =-.

By: Ari

Ari — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:07:47 +0000

Thanks for the sharing, I know that I had no idea about how this could happen. Scary stuff, I hope people listen!

By: amy

amy — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:31:27 +0000

Hi Jenna – I am a daily reader of your blogs, but I don’t comment very often. But I was looking around at this website that I found that had christmas ordiments, and when I came across the following I just thought of you.
http://www.personalizedfree.com/closeup.asp?cid=84&pid=300
http://www.personalizedfree.com/closeup.asp?cid=84&pid=298
http://www.personalizedfree.com/closeup.asp?cid=84&pid=303
*Amy*

By: Click Clack Mom

Click Clack Mom — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:11:06 +0000

Thank you so much for your informative post. I had no idea what could happen in such a short amount of time. Not to mention, maybe I won’t think my husband is nagging when he says to water the tree EVERY DAY!

Thank you so much!

Amy
.-= Click Clack Mom´s last blog ..Must Haves–A More Perfect Jean =-.

By: FireMom

FireMom — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:06:53 +0000

I’d still suggest watering it as I know that you can still dry out a living, potted plant/tree/living thing. I just can’t remember to water things. I’m bad at that…

By: Robyn

Robyn — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:04:06 +0000

What about living Christmas trees as an alternative? They’re potted, so they’re still alive. (Sadly, whenever we plant them after Christmas, they die. But we do try.)

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:59:38 +0000

Well done! This is a very accurate & informative article. Good Job!

By: FireMom

FireMom — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:30:29 +0000

Yes and no. The USFA site explains how needles should feel: Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle 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. When I asked Josh the question, he said that too many road side stands cut their trees in mid-November. That's far, far too long. Following the USFA's notes above and maintaining it should be okay. Just waterwaterwater.

By: Nisha

Nisha — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:23:33 +0000

We usually buy from a lot and then have them cut an additional few inches off the bottom. Is this still a hazard because of not knowing how long it’s been sitting on the lot?