With the arrival of the holiday season, the Wheeling Fire Department wants to remind the public of several key safety factors to keep themselves safe from various fire dangers this time of year.

This coming weekend typically is one of the busiest times for fresh cut Christmas tree sales. Live trees are the most dangerous source of home fires during the holidays. According to fire statistics, many do not follow key fire and burn safety tips during the season, which can result in one of the most dangerous times of the year. 

“Make sure your live tree has plenty of water. Make it part of your daily routine by setting a reminder on your phone, leaving yourself a note in your house, or a full jug of water by the front door to remind you to add water at the base of the tree,” Assistant Fire Chief Deric Jamison said. “A dry tree, if ignited, can engulf one’s entire living room with fire in just 10 seconds.” 

A fresh cut tree can consume up to a gallon of water daily. Officials recommend cutting at least an inch off the tree just prior to placing it in its stand.

Another safety tip this time of year involves strands of lights and electrical cords/power sources. “Don’t overload outlets and watch what kinds of extension cords you use. Never use damaged cords or plug a lot of lights into a single outlet. Keep the cords and wires free of obstacles, and never run them under furniture, carpet, or other objects,” said Jamison.

Additional safety tips from the Wheeling Fire Department include:

• Keep all exits clear of trees and decorations
• Do not use candles on trees, or leave unattended in house
• Use LED lights, compared to incandescent bulbs
• Turn lights off when leaving house
  
  Should one encounter a tree fire, or any other fire related incident, never try to handle the matter on your own – get out and stay out - always call 911.