Christmas is right around the corner, and if you're bringing a tree into your home, there are some fire safety tips that you should know. Along with holiday celebrations come holiday decorations, but those decorations can be dangerous in the home."There's not a single firehouse where we don't hear the stories of the Christmas fire, the holiday season fires," said Mark McConnell, a fire marshal in New Mexico. Christmas trees are the main danger during the winter months. McConnell said the tree we choose for our home is vital. "We're bringing these trees into the homes. They're beautiful and they're great, but they dry out, and we have a lot of electrical around them," McConnell said. That's the difference: a dry tree and a watered tree. "If that dry tree catches, there's a chance that it'll go out of control to a point where there'll be horrible damage by the time we get there," McConnell said. So how can we be sure to pick the right tree? McConnell said when you buy the tree, you want to make sure that the pines don't just fall apart as you touch it. He also said that when you leave the house for holiday travel, unplug the electrical hazards next to it. Make sure that your tree is 3 feet away from any type of heating source. What if you're not bringing in a tree for the holidays? McConnell said we still have to be careful making those sweet holiday desserts. "A lot of our fires are gonna be when the oven is really dirty inside, hasn't been cleaned for years," McConnell said. "And some of that particulate that's been left in there is gonna catch fire."Watch the full story in the video above.
Christmas is right around the corner, and if you're bringing a tree into your home, there are some fire safety tips that you should know. Along with holiday celebrations come holiday decorations, but those decorations can be dangerous in the home.
"There's not a single firehouse where we don't hear the stories of the Christmas fire, the holiday season fires," said Mark McConnell, a fire marshal in New Mexico.
Christmas trees are the main danger during the winter months. McConnell said the tree we choose for our home is vital.
"We're bringing these trees into the homes. They're beautiful and they're great, but they dry out, and we have a lot of electrical around them," McConnell said.
That's the difference: a dry tree and a watered tree.
"If that dry tree catches, there's a chance that it'll go out of control to a point where there'll be horrible damage by the time we get there," McConnell said.
So how can we be sure to pick the right tree? McConnell said when you buy the tree, you want to make sure that the pines don't just fall apart as you touch it.
He also said that when you leave the house for holiday travel, unplug the electrical hazards next to it. Make sure that your tree is 3 feet away from any type of heating source.
What if you're not bringing in a tree for the holidays? McConnell said we still have to be careful making those sweet holiday desserts.
"A lot of our fires are gonna be when the oven is really dirty inside, hasn't been cleaned for years," McConnell said. "And some of that particulate that's been left in there is gonna catch fire."
Watch the full story in the video above.
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