The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) strongly encourages everyone to dispose of their Christmas trees promptly after the holiday season.
As much as people enjoy the look and feel of Christmas trees in their homes, they are large combustible items that have the potential to result in serious fires. Both live and artificial trees can cause fires, but live Christmas trees dry out and become increasingly flammable over time.
To safely dispose of a Christmas tree, NFPA recommends using the local community's recycling program, if possible. Trees should not be put in the garage or left outside. NFPA also offers several tips for safely removing lighting and decorations to ensure that they remain in good condition.
When unplugging electrical decorations, the gripping area on the plug should be used. The cord should never be pulled to unplug any device from an electrical outlet, as this can harm the wire and insulation of the cord, increasing the risk for shock or electrical fire.
As light strings are being packed, each line should be inspected for damage, and people should throw out any sets that have loose connections, broken sockets, or cracked or bare wires. Each set of lights should be wrapped and put in an individual plastic bag or wrapped around a piece of cardboard.
All electrical decorations should be stored away from children and pets in a dry place, where they will not be damaged by water or dampness.
For more information on home fire safety, visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov.
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