Westport News

Cut Tree Safety

•Water a live tree every day.

•Buy a cut tree as fresh as possible. A newly cut tree, properly cared for, can stay green and fire safe for several weeks.

•Never use a cut tree in a place of public assembly (such as an office, apartment or hotel lobby, restaurant, etc.)

•Turn off the lights when leaving the house or going to bed for the night.

•Never use lighted candles as decorations.

How to Select a Tree

Lift the tree and tap the butt on the ground. If green needles fall off, the tree is too dry! Grab a branch near the top and pull your hand along it slowly. Needles should not fall off. The tree is already quite dry if you bend a needle and it breaks before bending in half.

 Putting Up the Tree

Make a fresh cut an inch or two off the bottom to help with absorption, right before placing it in the stand. A tree will try to “heal its wound” by enclosing the previous cut in sap and this hinders water absorption.

Placing the Tree

•Place your tree in a non-tip style stand with wide feet. Make sure it cannot be tipped over by children or pets. Use extra wires if needed to keep it steady.

•Keep doorways and exits clear. Put trees and other decorations out of the way of traffic.

•Place your tree and other decorations away from heaters, fireplaces, candles and all other sources of heat and flame. Heat makes a tree dry out faster and any heat source could make it catch fire.

Dispose of Your Tree Carefully

Remove a holiday tree soon after the holidays. A dry tree is fuel for a fire both inside and outside the house. An abandoned tree is frequently attractive to vandals so take advantage of your community’s pick-up day if available.