Now hold on a minute before you think I might suggest not putting up a Christmas tree this year. Celebrate the holidays however you wish, but keep in mind the inherent hazards in placing a live (or artificial) tree inside your home during the holidays when plenty of family and friends will be over to visit.

What is a holiday party without a beautifully decorated Christmas tree? More than 33 million American homes decorate with a natural tree as part of the holiday decorations each year. Christmas trees account for approximately 240 fires annually, resulting in 13 deaths and more than $16 million in property damage. Typically, shorts in electrical lights and open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not usually a problem, but dry and neglected ones can be.

Even trees that have been well-watered and cared for will eventually stop absorbing water and start to dry out. A good rule of thumb is to never keep a live Christmas tree for more than a month. When the needles start falling off in large numbers, it is a good sign that it is time to get it out of the house. Dry trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home, garage or placed outside against the home.

When a flame from a candle touches a dry tree, it doesn't take long for a raging fire to ensue. Within three seconds of ignition, the dry tree is ablaze. At five seconds, the fire can extend up the tree and issue large quantities of thick black smoke and searing gases across the ceiling. Fresh air near the floor continues feeding the fire, and the heat layer high in the room begins to bank down, preheating other combustibles in the room. Within 40 seconds, a “flashover” can occur, where the entire room erupts into flames, the oxygen supply is diminished, and thick, dense smoke engulfs the entire room.

Do not dispose of Christmas trees by burning them in a fireplace or wood stove. The trees have a lot of sap, which can lead to explosive burning once heated. Pine needles also burn hot and fast, and flames can quickly flare out of control and send sparks flying across a room or ignite creosote deposits in the chimney and cause a chimney fire.

Artificial trees may not dry out, but keep in mind most are made from synthetic materials that can easily catch fire and burn almost as rapidly as a real tree. All trees, regardless of real or artificial, should be kept well away from direct heating sources such as fireplaces, wood stoves and space heaters. Candles should also be placed away from Christmas trees, and out of the path of travel of children and pets that may knock them into a tree. Check any lights before putting them on the tree for any cracks in the insulation. If they are cracked or fraying, dispose of them and replace them with a fresh set that bear the UL seal of approval.

All of your Livonia firefighters wish you a safe holiday season!

Tom Kiurski is training coordinator for the Livonia Fire Department.