SUNDAY'S HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY TIP!

When purchasing a real cut Christmas tree from a tree lot do the following things:
1. Lift the tree straight up & slam it down onto the surface of the tree lot; while vigorously shaking it.
2. Look deep into the branches for sign's of excessive amounts of dead needles. In steps 1 & 2 if you see large amounts of fallen needles it mean the tree has been cut several days if not weeks & could pose a fire hazard. It's probably best to locate another tree and/or a different tree retailer.

3. Once you've decided upon that perfect tree; as soon as you get home & prior to taking it inside, use a brush or chain saw to cut another 3"-6" off the bottom of the tree trunk. This will allow more water to absorb into the tree's trunk, thus keeping the tree fresh longer. One caveat & caution! Check the tree's reservoir often the first 12-24 hrs.; because of the copious amounts of water the tree's trunk will absorb within that time frame! After the 1st day, once a day will suffice.

HAVE A NICE & FIRE SAFE HOLIDAY! Ho Ho Ho....Mark

GRIZZ ON THE PROWL

This past Wednesday morning, (12/13/06) while watching my favorite morning news program, NBC's Today, that featured a segment w/ Martha Stewart's tips for decorating your Christmas tree, that literally scared the living daylight's out of me!

Those of you who know me I'm typically a pretty much mellow & laid back kind of a guy (no pun intended related to my MS). But get me riled & sideways w/ me & I can get angry big time! (A character flaw, I'm still working on!).

Now back to Martha Stewart & decorating the perfect Christmas tree. Agreed Martha Stewart is a perfectionist at any & everything she does. Arguably, Martha Stewart's had more than her fair share of trouble w/ Law Enforesment. But what I saw her instructing people how to correctly hang Christmas lights, was in my estimation, criminal in nature. She instructed people to wrap the light's cord 6 times around each branch as they string the lights around the Christmas tree.

That's an absolute "No! No!". Anytime you tightly wrap or bind any kind of electrical cord tightly & closely together it acts as a heating element, much like the burners on an electrical cooking stove. The age, condition of the cord, the amount of current flowing through the Christmas tree light's & the length & gauge of the wire, all affect this dynamic. You may escape this fire hazard the 1st yr, the 2nd & subsequent years;without a problem. But you can take it to the bank; that it's not a question of if, but when you'll have an electrical fire by following Miss Perfectionist, Martha Stewart's suggestions.

Now granted, Martha was using an artificial tree, new miniature lights in a controlled environment. But I don't know of anyone who completely replaces their tree lighting each & every yr. And what about those who purchase live trees, that don't routinely check & replenish the water in the tree stands reservoir. And/or what about others still using the large tree lights, which further exacerbates the fire hazard..



In my 20 yrs. in the Fire Service, I've seen several intelligent & highly educated people do some really dumb & stupid things!

I don't know about you; but I'd rather have a Charlie Brown looking Christmas tree vs.possibly losing a loved one and/or my home & belongings due to an electrical fire!

Look for more holiday fire safety tips on my web page soon. All for now, Mark A.K.A. Grizz