County Executive Steve Schuh, Fire Chief Allan Graves Team Up for Christmas Tree Safety Public Service Announcement

Annapolis, MD (December 9, 2016) –As citizens across Anne Arundel County kick off the holiday season, County Executive Steve Schuh and Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Allan Graves today released a public service announcement (PSA) encouraging citizens to properly care for their Christmas trees.

“Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home,” said Schuh. “I encourage all our citizens to take the proper precautions to ensure they have a safe and happy holiday.”

Citizens can begin the process of selecting safe tree at the tree lot. They can run a branch through an enclosed hand to make sure the needles don’t come off easily and that the branches bend without cracking. Other signs of dryness are discoloration, musty order, or wrinkled bark.

As a general rule, trees need 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter every day, so a 3-inch stem will need 3 quarts of water. Keep trees at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces or heaters.

“Once the holiday season ends, we encourage all our citizens to dispose of their trees promptly,” said Chief Graves. “Taking these steps will ensure a safe and happy Holiday season.”

Video of the PSA can be found here: Christmas Tree PSA