While decorations are not normally the drawback, Christmas trees are quintessential because of their extremely flammable nature. When integrated with electrical sparks or overheating cords, a dry Christmas tree can turn into a roaring house fire in less than a minute. In accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home fires started by Christmas trees average 200 per year. Every year, these fires cause an average of $14.8 million in property damage, 16 injuries, and 6 deaths.
As the property owner, your role is to publicize the basic fire safety tips to your renters even before the holiday season turns up. Although prohibiting Christmas trees entirely is possibly not a preference, there are some quite obvious ideas your tenants can bring together to protect themselves and your rental household from the risk of fire.
The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) shows different ways of safety precautions that can sizably ease the peril of your tree catching fire. These precautions include:
- Score a fresh (real) tree or an artificial tree. Fresh trees are more reliable due to their inherent fire resistance. Artificial trees are also not dangerous than real trees because they are known to not dry up right away.
- Make sure to water your fresh tree consistently. Fresh trees should always be watered on a consistent basis then cut off without further delay after the holiday or once you notice that the needles begin to drop.
- Put your tree away from heat sources and open flames, such as fireplaces, candles and heat vents.
- Always use safety-tested lights and throw out any damaged light sets.
- Make sure to turn off the Christmas tree lights before going to bed or leaving your home. Leaving the lights on all night or while away increases your risk of fire.
- Always have a brand-new fire extinguisher accessible as a precaution just in case that sparks or flames do appear.
Imparting these Christmas tree safety tips with your tenants in Upper Marlboro can maintain your rental homes and make everybody cherish a safe and peaceful holiday. With Real Property Management Capital helping you every step of the way, we can make sure that these safety precautions are disclosed with your renters and that all holiday decorations meet basic safety guidelines. For more information regarding our full-service property management services, please contact us online or call us at 301-869-5001.