Those that rent their home or apartment from a landlord still find it important to make the place their own. During the holidays, making it feel like home may include decorating a Christmas tree. Getting a live Christmas tree offers that wonderful pine smell but unfortunately Christmas trees are responsible for around 300 fires every year. Landlords need to be aware of the risks involved in having trees in their properties and help their tenants with some of these safety tips to have a safe and wonderful Christmas season.
One of the biggest causes of tree fires is faulty tree lights. Have you tenants check the lights they place on live trees to make sure there are no missing or broken bulbs. They should look at the wiring for cracks and let them know not to plug in over three light strings into one outlet since that could cause an electrical fire. Get rid of lights over 5 years old.
Make sure the tree isn’t near a heat source like a fireplace, candles, heating vents or radiators. It will dry out faster which increase the fire hazard. Direct sunlight can also be a threat to this.
When you choose a Christmas tree, make sure you find one with fresh, green needles that don’t fall out when touched. Ask the tree lot how long ago the trees were cut because it shouldn’t have been cut for too long.
Make sure to cut off 2 inches off the bottom of the trunk and put it in water right away. Don’t let the base of the tree dry out and make sure to water the tree every day. You can even add a humidifier to the room to help with a dry room.
Help your tenants and yourself this Christmas season by letting them know about these fire safety tips.