A bucket of water is not enough What to do if your Christmas tree catches fire
Do you also like real candles on your Christmas tree? Then you probably have a bucket of water ready. But it's not enough if the tree catches fire. Watch the video to see how to extinguish a Christmas tree fire properly.
Over the Christmas holidays in particular, the fire department has to be called out time and again to put out fires. The cause is usually Advent wreaths and Christmas trees, which dry out in heated homes and therefore pose an increased risk of fire.
Acting intuitively and correctly in the event of a fire is not a matter of course. Many of us are not used to dealing with open fires, so the danger is all too often underestimated.
blue News had firefighter Martin Hürlimann from the Uster fire department at the training center in Riedikon show us how to react correctly if your Christmas tree catches fire.
The most important tips for extinguishing a Christmas tree fire
- Keep a bucket of water with a hand brush ready in case of emergency. Dip the broom in the water and sprinkle it over the burning areas.
- If larger Christmas trees are on fire, you may need to use a fire extinguisher with foam. Important: Familiarize yourself with how to use the extinguisher when you buy it. In an emergency, you don't want to have to waste time studying the operating instructions.
- A fire blanket is often not the right solution for a Christmas tree fire. The blanket cannot completely enclose medium-sized and larger trees in particular and the candles continue to burn because the fire is not smothered.
- Beware of toxic smoke. If possible, open windows immediately and do not inhale smoke.
- Once the fire has been extinguished, always call the fire department (number: 118). It is important that experts inspect the area around the fire in order to detect possible heat leaks at an early stage. This is particularly important for wooden walls.
