How to keep your Christmas tree from catching on fire

The Winston-Salem Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association shared a number of tips to keep your holidays safe.

The Winston-Salem Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association shared a number of tips to keep your holidays safe.

YOU CAN’T GIVE ANY MONEY. BUT FIRST, THE BIG CHILL IS COMING. WE STARTED THIS WEEK IN THE 80S. NOW WE ARE BREAKING OUT THOSE HEAVY COATS. CHIEF, METEOROLOGIST LANIE POPE IS IN THE W 12. FIRST WARNING WEATHER CENTER WITH A LOOK AHEAD. AND GOSH, TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE COLDEST MORNING WE’VE HAD IN MONTHS, ISN’T IT? YEAH. FROM SHORTS TO SCARVES, WE’VE GOT TEMPERATURES THAT ARE GOING TO BE DROPPING VERY QUICKLY. AND SINCE YESTERDAY AT THIS TIME, THEY’VE DROPPED ABOUT 20 TO 25 DEGREES ACROSS THE PIEDMONT TRIAD. NOW, EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, WE’D HAD A 30 DEGREE DROP SINCE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND WE’RE ALREADY IN THE 30S AND A FEW SPOTS, 38 IN GALAX AS WELL AS REIDSVILLE, BURLINGTON AT 39. AND WE’RE IN THE MID 40S RIGHT NOW FROM GREENSBORO DOWN TO ASHEBORO. EVEN SOME 40S SCATTERED EAST TOWARD FAYETTEVILLE AND GREENVILLE. NOW THOSE AREAS ARE UNDER A FREEZE WATCH BECAUSE THEY’LL HAVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES TOMORROW NIGHT. TONIGHT WE HAVE A FREEZE WARNING FOR THE TRIAD AND POINTS NORTH AND WEST AND WE’VE GOT ANOTHER REINFORCING FRONT OUT THERE TO THE WEST THAT’S GOING TO DRIVE IN SOME COLDER AIR HEADING INTO THE DAY TOMORROW. SO WE’RE GOING TO START IN THE LOW TO MID 20S FROM BOONE UP TOWARDS SPARTA AND GALAX, UPPER 20S FOR MOUNT AIRY AND NORTH WILKESBORO. AND WE WILL BE DOWN TO FREEZING IF NOT JUST BELOW IN THE HEART OF THE TRIAD. AND THAT’S JUST OUR FIRST FREEZING MORNING OF THIS WEEK. ALL RIGHT, LAINEY, THANK YOU. AND AS WE BRACE FOR SOME COLD NIGHTS THIS WEEK, NOW’S A GOOD TIME TO REMEMBER SOME HELPFUL INFORMATION WHEN HEATING YOUR HOMES. WXII 12. S KARA PETERS SPOKE WITH THE GREENSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHE JOINS US LIVE WITH SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. KARA. YEAH, CHRISTINE, THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT. HUNTER PILGRIM WITH THE GREENSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS AS WE SEE THESE COLD TEMPERATURES MOVE IN, NOW IS THE TIME TO START CHECKING ON YOUR HEATING EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS YOUR SMOKE ALARMS. AFTER A WARM, SUNNY FEW DAYS, TEMPERATURES ARE PLUMMETING, CAUSING MANY THIS HALLOWEEN TO BUNDLE UP WHILE TRICK OR TREATING THE PAST TWO DAYS IT BEEN VERY NICE. AND THEN TODAY IT JUST HIT US ALL AT ONCE. BUT WHAT A GREAT WAY TO SPEND HALLOWEEN. AND WHILE IT’S COLD OUTSIDE THE GREENSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE SAFE AND WARM INSIDE. AS WE GET CLOSER TO WINTER TIME, THAT IS USUALLY WHEN WE RUN INTO MOST OF OUR FIRES HERE IN THE CITY. HUNTER PILGRIM, DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT, SAYS YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PUT YOUR HEATER, WHETHER YOU HAVE A GAS FIRED FURNACE OR YOU GOT A PORTABLE SPACE HEATER. LET’S BE MINDFUL THAT WE NEED TO FROM ANY TYPE OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS, WHETHER IT BE A COUCH CHAIR. ANOTHER HELPFUL TIP, CHECKING YOUR CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AND SMOKE ALARMS, A SERVICE THE DEPARTMENT CAN PROVIDE FREE OF CHARGE. GFD NC.COM AND YOU’LL SEE ALL THE INFO THERE FOR YOU TO REQUEST A FREE SMOKE ALARM THAT WE WILL COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND INSTALL. AND IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE PEOPLE START LOOKING AHEAD AND STARTING TO SET UP FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. WELL, THE GREENSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS YOU COVERED FOR THAT AS WELL. THEY REMIND YOU TO KEEP IN MIND HOW MANY LIGHTS YOU PLAN TO PLUG IN TO AVOID OVERLOADING YOUR ELECTRICAL

How to keep your Christmas tree from catching on fire

The Winston-Salem Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association shared a number of tips to keep your holidays safe.

Christmas trees start hundreds of home fires a year, according to some national estimates by the National Fire Research Laboratory. The majority of Christmas tree fires occur in late December or January. It happens suddenly, as trees become fully engulfed in a matter of seconds. About 44% of home Christmas tree fires were started by electrical distribution or lighting equipment issues, according to the National Fire Protection Association.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereThe Winston-Salem Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association are sharing several tips to keep your holidays safe. But regardless of the season, they note, it's important to make sure your smoke alarm works well and that your family has a fire escape plan. ►Still wanting to buy a Christmas tree? Check out this list of choose and cut farms and also retail lots near you. Check out this interactive map feature of Christmas tree farms and retail lots. Where should I put the Christmas tree?Somewhere spacious and not near risks, like outlets or vents. Just one dry, flammable pine needle could get stuck in an empty light socket and ignite a fire.Make sure there isn't anything flammable under the skirt, either. For example, don't tuck wires under the tree's skirt. Keep your Christmas tree at least 3 feet from any heat source, in general. Keep all candles far, far away from the tree!Keep extension cords and exposed wires away from the tree, too.Never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights, and never overload electrical outlets. What can I put on my Christmas tree?Rely on decorations that do not carry a risk of sparking a fire.Do not use lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or bulb connections.Connect no more than three strands of mini-string lights together at one time.How do I safely care for the Christmas tree?Always unplug Christmas tree lights before going to bed or leaving the house.Keep live trees as moist as possible by watering them daily.Extinguish all lit candles when you leave a room.Make sure the tree is safely secured and not able to fall down near kids or pets.Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water.How do I know my artificial Christmas tree is safe?Make sure it is fire retardant.Fire departments across the U.S. respond to an average of 160 home structure fires per year that begin with a Christmas tree catching on fire, according to the NFPA.Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.Check out this video below, provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, showing just how quickly a dry Christmas tree catches on fire compared to a tree that's been watered. Evergreen Elf You can also invest in an Evergreen Elf that’s used to monitor water levels in Christmas trees. The Elf will light up to let you know when the "water is low” or when the “battery is low.” You can find one on Amazon and it costs about $19.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsRELATED STORIESHow and where to safely dispose of your Christmas tree after the holiday seasonWinston-Salem Fire Department reminds public of open burn ordinance and holiday safety tipsGreensboro Fire Department talks home safety ahead of brisk cold temperaturesFire prevention week safety tips Winston-Salem police talk about community safety NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

Christmas trees start hundreds of home fires a year, according to some national estimates by the National Fire Research Laboratory.

The majority of Christmas tree fires occur in late December or January. It happens suddenly, as trees become fully engulfed in a matter of seconds. About 44% of home Christmas tree fires were started by electrical distribution or lighting equipment issues, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

The Winston-Salem Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association are sharing several tips to keep your holidays safe. But regardless of the season, they note, it's important to make sure your smoke alarm works well and that your family has a fire escape plan.

►Still wanting to buy a Christmas tree? Check out this list of choose and cut farms and also retail lots near you.

Check out this interactive map feature of Christmas tree farms and retail lots.

Where should I put the Christmas tree?

Somewhere spacious and not near risks, like outlets or vents. Just one dry, flammable pine needle could get stuck in an empty light socket and ignite a fire.
Make sure there isn't anything flammable under the skirt, either. For example, don't tuck wires under the tree's skirt.
Keep your Christmas tree at least 3 feet from any heat source, in general.
Keep all candles far, far away from the tree!
Keep extension cords and exposed wires away from the tree, too.
Never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights, and never overload electrical outlets.

What can I put on my Christmas tree?

Rely on decorations that do not carry a risk of sparking a fire.
Do not use lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or bulb connections.
Connect no more than three strands of mini-string lights together at one time.

How do I safely care for the Christmas tree?

Always unplug Christmas tree lights before going to bed or leaving the house.
Keep live trees as moist as possible by watering them daily.
Extinguish all lit candles when you leave a room.
Make sure the tree is safely secured and not able to fall down near kids or pets.
Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water.

How do I know my artificial Christmas tree is safe?

Make sure it is fire retardant.

Fire departments across the U.S. respond to an average of 160 home structure fires per year that begin with a Christmas tree catching on fire, according to the NFPA.

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

Check out this video below, provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, showing just how quickly a dry Christmas tree catches on fire compared to a tree that's been watered.

Evergreen Elf

You can also invest in an Evergreen Elf that’s used to monitor water levels in Christmas trees. The Elf will light up to let you know when the "water is low” or when the “battery is low.” You can find one on Amazon and it costs about $19.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

How to keep your Christmas tree from catching on fire

The Winston-Salem Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association shared a number of tips to keep your holidays safe.

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

Where should I put the Christmas tree?

What can I put on my Christmas tree?

How do I safely care for the Christmas tree?

How do I know my artificial Christmas tree is safe?

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