The Christmas tree, a staple of the holiday season for many San Diegans, can also be one of the most dangerous fire hazards in your home, especially in the current winter dry spell that Southern California is experiencing. Every December Christmas trees account for around 230 house fires throughout the US, with homes in dryer climates being especially at risk. We here at Clean Earth Restorations want to give you some good reasons why you shouldn’t drag your feet when disposing of your tree.
For many families a live Christmas tree is an essential part of the holiday season and many may have these trees up in their home for more than month. This presents many significant dangers in the dry desert climate of San Diego County. Even with significant watering these trees will still eventually dry out over time which presents an increased fire risk. Douglas and Noble Firs, some of the most common types of Christmas tree sold in Southern California, are especially dangerous because they tend to be grown in much colder and wetter environments making them very flammable in the dry California heat.
Faulty wiring or proximity to fireplaces are often common causes for Christmas tree fires. If your Christmas tree has dried out and is within three feet of an outlet it may be time to dispose of it. We recommend tossing out the tree within four weeks of purchasing it.
How you dispose of the tree matters!
According to the National Fire Protection Agency close to 100 house fires are caused by Christmas trees that are stored on the property after being removed from the home instead of being fully disposed of, often because these trees present an easy target for arsonists. Even if arsonists aren’t a major problem in your area it’s probably not a good idea to keep the tree on your property during a winter dry spell like we are experiencing this year. Wildfires could easily catch an improperly discarded Christmas tree on fire possibly causing significant property damage.
If you are looking to dispose of your tree correctly make sure you check out the City of San Diego guidelines on roadside disposal or you take your tree to the proper disposal facility.
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