CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY
The snow is falling, the carolers are out and the holiday decorations are everywhere. The joy of the season should not be dampened by the risk of fire. In recent years, nearly 600 fires per year have been started by ignition of Christmas trees in the United States, causing an average of 33 deaths, 112 injuries and $21 million in direct property damage per year, according to the ISU Fire Service Institute.Here are some helpful tips to reduce the risk of
fire: 
 | Check your tree lights for broken or frayed wires and loose connections. |
| Replace non-working light bulbs. |
| Avoid decorating Christmas trees with candles. |
| Make sure live Christmas trees are fresh. Don't buy trees with brown needles or dry limbs. |
| Consider having the tree sprayed with a Fire Marshall-approved flame retardant chemical. |
| Give the tree plenty of water. Never let the base holder dry out. |
| Don't place the tree near a heat source, open flames and room exits. |
| Keep light strings and other electrical decorations out of children's reach. |
| Always unplug the Christmas tree lights when you leave or go to bed. |
| Don't burn the Christmas tree or package wrappings in a fire place or wood stove |
Water is still the best preservative for Christmas trees. Make sure trees have a 1 inch fresh cut. ALWAYS keep the Christmas tree stand basin filled with water. If the tree absorbs all the water, the basin is empty and you haven't noticed, a fresh cut needs to be made on the tree, even if that means taking all the decorations off.
Aspirins, copper pennies, uncolas, sugar and bleach have not been shown to prolong the life of a tree.
The following recipes MIGHT help prevent Christmas tree fires:
A. 1 cup Ammonium Sulphate, 1/2 cup Boric Acid, 2 Tablespoons Borax, 1 Gallon Water
Mix the first three into the water. Spray tree.
B. 5 Tablespoons Borax 4 Tablespoons Epsom Salts 2 Quarts Water
Mix the first two into the water. Spray tree.