CANFIELD Demonstration shows Christmas tree hazards

Fire officials suggest discarding live Christmas trees after two weeks.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Two Christmas evergreen trees sat festively in the corner of one Canfield house Wednesday -- then firefighters took a torch to the branches.
The tree burning was a demonstration on how quickly a dry Christmas tree can catch fire. It was held in a house used for firefighting training next to Fire Station No. 1 in Canfield.
Boardman and Canfield firefighters set flame to two trees, both donated by Akenhead Tree Farm of East Palestine.
"Basically we are trying to simulate what would happen if presents or candles on a tree or electrical lighting were to set a tree on fire," said Lt. William Glaser of the Boardman Fire Department. "The whole point we are trying to make is to keep your tree in water, watering the tree at least once a day if not twice."
The first tree firefighters set aflame had been kept in water as fire officials suggest. Glaser said the tree is able to "drink" the water and therefore maintain more fire-resistant limbs.
Firefighters put flame to various parts of the tree. The fire took some time to catch and spread only a short distance over the tree before going out.
Second, drier tree
Glaser said the second tree was slightly drier than the first. Firefighters had hung the tree upside down in an attempt to drain the tree of all moisture -- representative of a tree sitting in a home without water.
The fire did take to the second tree more quickly than the first, creating a small fire among the branches then shooting upward, but Glaser said there is another threat equally as dangerous as the fire itself.
"Even with the small amount of fire, smoke can become dangerous; that is why it is important to keep your smoke detectors operating," he said.
Glaser said it is important to remember that it does not take a large fire to make a lot of smoke.
Toxic fumes from plastic
He added that in a home setting, trees are often decorated with plastic decorations, which can release toxic fumes when burning.
He also said many trees are located on the home's first floor, which is below where the family may sleep. When the smoke rises, he said, it could be headed directly for the area where the family is resting.
Though most synthetic trees manufactured today are fire resistant, Glaser said owners of those trees should still follow guidelines for tree safety such as not using candles, using safe lights, and making sure to unplug all lights before leaving the home.
Glaser said fire officials recommend using a tree for only about two weeks before disposing it. He said used, dried trees should not be kept in a house, garage or alongside the house.
jgoodwin@vindy.com