Christmas tree safety guidelines Published Dec. 8, 2006 By 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Each year an average of 370 home fires start from Christmas trees. "In less then a minute and a half, a dry tree can become a flaming inferno, giving little notification and leaving very little time to get out safely." said Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Hawkins, Pope fire chief. The following tips from the Pope Fire and Emergency Services can prevent occurrences such as this from happening to you: When you purchase your tree, perform a few simple tests to make sure it is fresh and healthy. - Shake the tree; the needles should not fall off. - Pull on the needles; again they should not come off. - Bend a branch with your finger and thumb. It should bend, not break. - Make sure the trunk is straight. This will make it easier to stand and not fall over. - After you have found the perfect tree you need do a few things to keep it fire safe. - If the place you purchased it did not do this, cut about 1 inch off the bottom. This allow for a fresh area to absorb water better. - Keep your tree moist. Water it daily. A 6 foot tree can consume up to 1 gallon of water a day. - Keep the tree 3 feet from heat sources such as heaters, fireplaces and vents. - Never use real candles on or around the tree. - Check your lights. Make sure there are no exposed wires. Use low heat bulbs or ones with deflectors and make sure they are UL listed. - Always unplug your lights when you are not home and when you go to bed. - Place your tree close to an outlet so extension cords are not needed. - Finally, when your tree starts losing its needles, it has become a fire hazard. It is time to get it out of your house. When decorating your house, there are a few safety tips to pass along to make this holiday season a safe and pleasant one: - When hanging Christmas lights, don't use staples or nails. Hooks and clips designed for this purpose can be purchased. It makes hanging lights safer as well as fast and easy. - Ensure your outdoor lights are rated for outdoor use. - Don't overload extension cords or light strings. Check packages for manufactures maximum recommended connections. When using a ladder: - Be careful around power lines. Use wooden or fiberglass because it does not conduct electricity like a metal ladder does. - Use correct height. Ladder should extend at least 3 rungs above the roof. - Set the ladder on a firm level surface. - Only one person should be on the ladder at a time and always face the ladder when climbing.