Cheshire – If you’ve got a Christmas tree in your house this holiday season, you’re not alone. The nonprofit American Christmas Tree Association estimates that 75 percent of households have a tree, whether it’s a live tree, a cut tree, or an artificial one. In Connecticut, approximately 100,000 families have trees each year. And with the tree comes the responsibility of adding some “must-have” tree care items to your holiday list.
The Cheshire Fire Department offers some “Fire Smart” advice for Christmas tree safety from the National Fire Protection Association. Some people wait until the last minute, but others are venturing out to their Christmas tree even with the last Thanksgiving dishes removed from the table. The longer the tree is on top, the more you want to ensure that the needles do not dry out, and, accordingly, the tree will have to be watered daily.
NFPA encourages families not to wait too long after Christmas to take down the tree. Once you remove the ornamental and tree off the stand, if the tree is dry, don’t leave it in the home or garage. It should also not be placed on the house when you take it outside. Although Christmas tree fires are not uncommon, the NFPA says that Christmas tree fires do occur and are likely to be dangerous. It’s also a good idea to unplug and take out any outdoor electrical lights or decorations, to “prevent risks and make them last longer.”
More tree resolutions await once the holiday is over. Will you repurpose your tree to be a bird habitat in your garden?
Or you can help out the Cheshire Ram Band’s annual fundraiser and collect a Christmas tree. The group captures about 700 trees each year.
Steve Greenwood, president of the Cheshire Ram Band Parents’ Association, said the group has been collecting Christmas trees for at least 15 years.
“The money goes to help with all aspects of our costs which include transportation and uniforms. Our fundraising has been limited due to Covid, so this year is especially important,” he said.
This year’s fundraising starts on January 11th. There is a suggested donation for each tree. For more information, go to ramband.com or send an email to treepickup@ramband.com
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