BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The Kern County and Bakersfield fire departments conducted a demonstration to highlight the dangers of dry Christmas trees, which can ignite quickly and lead to devastating fires.
Each year, Christmas tree fires result in property loss, injuries, and sometimes fatalities. Fire causes range from electrical malfunctions to open flames.
“We have real Christmas trees and artificial Christmas trees – [they] ignite fairly quickly,” said Chad Lowe, Public Information Officer of the Kern County Fire Department.
Officials emphasize safety precautions such as watering real trees daily, using battery-operated flameless candles instead of open-flame candles, keeping trees three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces and radiators, and unplugging holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed.