Benefits of Using Pre-Lit Christmas Trees for Fire Prevention
Seeing Christmas tree lights twinkle and ornaments sparkle within your home can be incredibly magical, but still, you should be aware of what’s at stake if you leave your pre-lit Christmas trees plugged in.
The lights on pre-lit trees are wonderful, and they definitely add a touch of whimsy to any holiday décor. But how can these lights be made to pose fewer hazards?
You’ll find out.
Though it’s pretty well known that live trees will become dry and a potential fire hazard if they aren’t taken care of, the way lightning passes through branches increases the danger if precautions aren’t taken.
Choosing the Right Pre-Lit Christmas Tree for Your Home
Conversely, artificial Christmas trees have electrical components in their lights that can ignite a fire. NFPA advises all holiday travelers to turn off their pre-lit trees before leaving home or sleeping.
Moreover, one out of every four fires caused by Christmas trees at home are caused by electrical problems. Fires can start quickly when artificial trees use electricity to power their lights, and they can be even more dangerous and destructive if you aren’t at home or asleep.
As Richey Austin, a Safety Health Environmental and Quality (SHEQ) expert in Houston, Texas, explains, protecting homes from Christmas trees’ fire hazards can save many lives. Detecting and extinguishing fires quickly are vital when there is an outbreak, and that’d go a long way in mitigating the effects of the fire. It is therefore imperative that you verify that your smoke detectors are working and that you have a fire extinguisher available in the event of a fire.
To prevent a fire from starting, proper precautions should be taken when buying an artificial tree. Purchasing an artificial tree with flame-resistant properties or a safety feature can reduce the risk of a fire, according to a representative from the manufacturer Balsam Hill.