Holiday precautions

Advice to follow for a safe holiday season

by Denise Massie

’Tis the season for holiday decorations in residential homes and businesses.

As decorations and Christmas trees go up around Cass County, public safety officials and those who sell trees are offering holiday safety advice.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration Web site (www.usfa.dhs.gov), fires occurring during the holiday season each year claim the lives of more than 400 people, injure at least 1,650 and cause nearly $1 billion in damage in the United States.

As long as people follow simple precautionary tips, the chances of encountering a fire or injury from holiday decorations lessens.

While tree-related fires are fairly uncommon in Cass County, Logansport Assistant Fire Chief Kim Costello said firefighters encounter “at least one fire related to Christmas time” each winter.

Logansport’s fire code has specific requirements about the use of live trees and other Christmas decorations, according to Building Commissioner Gary Hostetler.

“The city of Logansport codes are in place to protect our citizens’ lives and property,” he said in a news release. “Live trees present a significant fire hazard and must be used carefully.”

The fire code states cut root trees, including Christmas trees, are permitted in single-family homes and townhomes. However, the code prohibits the trees in common areas of apartment buildings and condos. Cut trees are also prohibited in public areas where groups of people gather, such as restaurants, churches and schools, unless the building has approved sprinklers.

Regardless of sprinkler protection, they’re prohibited in hospitals, nursing homes and day care centers.

The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to live cut trees, Costello said, is to keep it watered. Depending where the tree was purchased and when it was cut, more water may need to be added during the time it is up.

Dave Nicoles of Springcreek Landscaping and Nursery suggests checking the water level of a live cut tree at least once a day because they can dry out quickly.

Springcreek’s Bill Sonafrank said people can help prevent a tree from drying out, people shouldn’t put it in front of a window with direct sunlight or close the window’s curtains.

He also suggests purchasing a tree with a lot of sap and good needle retention. When the needles on the tree are pulled, the entire limb should pull with it. If the needle snaps off with no effort, it is probably dryer than others.

Right before the tree is placed into the stand, Sonafrank said it is important to make a fresh cut to the bottom of the tree. The fresh cut will allow more water to be absorbed.

“There’s a sap plug that seals over the tree,” he explained.

Logansport fire codes prohibit lit candles on trees and candles close enough to become a fire hazard.

Approved lights are also required to be used with a “UL” or “Underwriters Laboratories” label, which demonstrates they are safe.

Costello said when it comes to lights, residents need to use caution.

“Extension cords are where we have the biggest problem,” he said. “People put the cords under a mat where they are walked on and the cord breaks down.”

This can cause an electrical short, which may lead to a fire. Also, in older homes, the electrical breakers don’t always trip the way they should, he said.

“They need to make sure they are protected with a good extension cord instead of a cheap one,” he said. “Try to get one with a bigger wire grade on it.”

When extension cords are used, Costello suggests feeling the cords to make sure they’re not getting too hot.

When putting up a live tree, make sure the stand is large enough to support the tree. Nicoles said once all the lights and ornaments are in place, trees can become top heavy.

Nicoles suggests checking to see how dry a tree is by running a hand across the needles. If a handful of needles fall out, it could be too dry.

The dryer the tree becomes, Costello said, the more of an ignition point it can become.

Costello also added one more piece of advice.

“Make sure you have workable smoke detectors,” he said.

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com

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