Submitted by: agcomm,  Thu Dec  4 10:39:01 1997


                         December 4, 1997
 
Prevent A Fiery Christmas Tree
 
Graphic accompanies this story in hard copy and is available on
the World Wide Web at
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/newsrelease/graphics/
 
     One of the deadliest dangers during the holidays is,
unfortunately, the evergreen tree. It can light up the season in
terrible and unexpected ways if safety precautions are not taken,
according to George Maher, agricultural safety specialist for the
North Dakota State University Extension Service.
     "Select the freshest tree possible," advises Maher. "One way
of getting a fresh tree is to cut your own at a tree farm, then
maintain it carefully until it is to be decorated. When buying in
a tree lot, spot the fresh trees by looking for soft, pliable
needles and branches. Only a few needles should fall when a fresh
tree is firmly thumped--stump first on the ground."
     It is natural that there will be some brown needles in the
center area of a tree, near the trunk, Maher says. They result
from the natural growth process and are not always a sign of a
dried-out tree.
     "On the other hand," he says, "early cut trees often have a
green dye sprayed on them to simulate freshness. If the normally
brown needles in the center are green, and the trunk is green,
chances are the tree has been spray-painted to conceal an older,
dried-out tree."
     Most trees at sales outlets, Maher says, are wrapped with a
plastic mesh that makes a good examination difficult. The mesh is
for ease of handling and for reducing damage during
transportation, and the tree will take some time to relax its
branches and open up after this wrapping has been removed. 
     "It is easier to select a tree from those that have had the
wrapper removed," says Maher.  "You may be in for a surprise if
you wait and remove the plastic mesh at home."
     Maher advises taking these further precautions to prevent a
holiday tree from igniting:
  *  Store it in a cool place until you are ready to              
     decorate it.
  *  Cut about one inch of wood from the butt end, at a           
     slight angle, before inserting the tree in the stand--       
     to get rid of the dried-out plant cells that can't take      
     up water quickly. If water isn't drawn easily into the       
     tree, the tree will dry out quickly and become a tinder      
     hazard.
  *  Fill the tree-stand reservoir with water (or with your       
     favorite tree-watering recipe) as soon as the tree is        
     set up.
  *  Keep the reservoir filled to prevent the tree from           
     becoming waterlocked. A waterlocked tree cannot absorb       
     moisture and will quickly dry out. When the tree is          
     first put up it will consume a lot of water, but then        
     consumption will slow to a steady rate. (If the            
     reservoir dries out you will need to take the tree down      
     and recut the end of the trunk.)
  *  Before putting lights on the tree, carefully check           
     every string and repair any frayed wires, broken            
     insulation, cracked light receptacles, damaged mounting      
     clips.
  *  Use parallel-wired light string. These are the ones          
     that remain lighted even if one or more bulbs are            
     burned out. Series-wired strings of lights are not           
     common, probably old, and should not be used.
  *  Connect no more than three strings of lights to a            
     single extension cord, and no more than one extension        
     cord to each wall plug-in. Loading up cords and outlets      
     with lights may cause an electrical overload, and a          
     Fire.
  *  Place bulbs so they don't touch needles. (A bulb too         
     close to a needle may dry it out, then ignite it.)          
  *  Use tinsel made of plastic: metal foil may conduct           
     electricity.
  *  Hang paper and combustible ornaments very cautiously,        
     away from lights.
     "There are advantages to selecting an artificial tree,
rather than a natural one," says Maher. "Obviously, an artificial
tree won't need watering and can be kept from year to year.  But
take care when using an older, all-metal artificial tree, since
it may conduct electricity from worn-out strings of lights. Use
floodlights to illuminate it, rather than strings of lights--just
to be safe." 
     Maher advises looking for the Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
tag when shopping for an artificial tree or electrical
decorations. Most artificial trees are made of plastic, he says,
and should be fire resistant. Nonetheless, lights should be
applied carefully to these trees, so that they are not too close
to the needles.
                              ###
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: George Maher 231-8288
Editor: Barry Brissman (701) 231-7866