Speaker: According to the National Christmas Tree Association, more than 32 million homes decorate a Christmas tree, go on a farm. Such as this one, in Maine. This tradition often prompts fire safety officials to warn the public, that a fresh Christmas tree can become dry and quickly ignite in a fire. However, the chance is that a Christmas tree is the first item ignited in a home fire, actually very slim. Following some simple steps with the Christmas tree, will help keep a high moisture content making it very difficult to ignite from an accident or ignition source. We are here today with Jack Johnson of the fire department to discuss common sense fire safety around the holidays. Jack, what tips do you have for us today?
Jack Johnson: Well, what folks have to realize, is that a real Christmas is a lot like cut flowers, in the fact that they will take up water for several days, in fact, several weeks after they have been cut, and they are not a fire hazard, provided you do some real simple basic safety tips. One of the first things is, when you get your Christmas Tree home, you need to make a cut at the base of the tree, that allows to pick up water. Second thing, you need put into a water fill stand, and then third and final thing, is you need to make sure that water in that stand never goes below the level of the cut.
I would like to actually show you just how fire resistant these trees are. We have the torch here today, and what I am going to do is, act as though this was someone with a candle getting too close to the tree, and what you are going to see, is even with a slight heat, you are going to get a little bit of smoke, a little bit flames, but due to the high moisture content it goes out relatively quickly. Contrary to what you may have seen in other TV shows or movies or even news reports.
Speaker: Like I hardly see any burn marks at all.
Jack Johnson: Oh that's the real message is that, a tree like this, it was just cut last week, has been well watered, and we had it in the stand, we made the cut. If you do all those things, you are not going to a have a fire hazard, you are not going to have a Christmas Tree fire.
Speaker: Well, those are some great tips from a fire safety expert.
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