A Christmas tree will be set on fire this morning at the East Lansing Fire Department. Fire crews are deliberately setting the live tree on fire to show the public just how dangerous dry trees can be.
December is one of the most dangerous times of the year when it comes to fires. It only takes seconds for your holiday plans to be ruined and your home to go up in flames. The State Fire Marshal says a dry tree is extremely flammable.
Take the necessary precautions with live trees. Fire officials say water the tree daily by adding the water to the stand. Keep trees at least three feet away from any heat source.
Replace holiday lights that are worn or have broken cords. Holiday lights must be installed correctly. Make sure that your outlets in your home are set up to be able to carry the current to take care of those," says Delta Township Fire Inspector Michael Roberts. Turn off any lights before leaving home or going to bed.
And its not just Christmas trees. Candles can also pose a danger. A candle can fall on wrapping paper sparking a blaze. Fire officials say never leave a candle burning unattended. If you just love the look of candles, there are alternatives. Firefighters suggest using fake candles to avoid a fiery outcome.
Inspector Roberts says space heaters are the third leading cause of structure fires and the second leading cause of fire-related injury and death.
"Make sure when you have a space heater you have at least three feet of space between the space heater and any combustible materials," says Inspector Roberts." It all comes down to being aware. Be smart about where you put that space heater."
The Christmas Tree Live burn is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday. The East Lansing Fire Department Station #1 is located at 1700 Abbot Road, East Lansing. The community is invited to watch.
