Holiday Decorating Safety: Trees, Lights and Candles
The holidays bring out the lights, the tree and the candles. They also bring a rise in home fires. A few simple habits keep the season cozy and safe. Here is a short checklist, based on guidance from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
If You Have a Live Tree
- Water it every day. The USFA notes that a dry tree burns hot and fast.
- Keep it at least 3 feet from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles and heat vents.
- Place it where it does not block a door or a clear path out of the room.
- Take it down after the holiday, or sooner if it dries out.
Check Your Lights Before You Hang Them
The USFA says nearly one-third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems. A quick look each year helps.
- Unplug the strand and look along the whole wire.
- Throw away any strand with frayed or pinched wires.
- Follow the maker’s limit on how many strands can be joined. The CPSC advises connecting no more than three strands of incandescent lights end to end.
- Do not overload outlets or power strips.
Candles: Consider Going Flameless
If you use real candles, keep them at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, in sturdy holders where they cannot be knocked over. Never leave a lit candle in an empty room, and blow them out before you leave or go to bed.
Battery-powered flameless candles are a good choice. The USFA notes they can look and even feel much like the real thing.
Look Again at Your Smoke Alarms
Holiday cooking, guests and decorations are a good reason to test your alarms. Our guide to checking your smoke and CO alarms has the steps. Heaters need the same care as trees, so see space heater safety too.
More on Seniors Tips
- Clocks Fall Back November 1: A Good Day to Check Your Smoke and CO Alarms
- Space Heater Safety: Simple Habits for a Warm, Safe Winter
- Kitchen Fire Safety: Simple Habits That Prevent Cooking Fires
