U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Christmas /Holiday Tree and Decoration Safety - 2023

Trees:

  • When purchasing a tree, buy one that is as fresh as possible. Tap the butt on the ground and grab a branch near the top and pull your hand along it slowly. Needles should not fall off. If you bend a needle and it breaks before bending in half, it’s too dry!
  • Make a fresh cut an inch or two from the bottom before placing it in the stand. This will help with water absorption. Water a live tree every day. When the tree becomes dry, discard it.
  • Place your tree in a non-tip style stand with wide feet, using extra wires or weight if needed to keep it steady. Keep doorways and exits clear. Place your tree and decorations away from heaters, fireplaces, candles, and other sources of heat.
  • Purchase electric holiday lights that are listed by an approved testing agency and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Consider switching to newer LED lights that are cooler and use less electricity. Inspect older lights for frayed wires or other defects. Make sure the bulbs themselves are not touching combustible decorations, curtains, wrapped gifts, or tree skirts. Never use lighted candles as decorations! Turn off the lights when leaving the house or going to bed for the night.
  • Remove your tree soon after the holidays and take advantage of the Cambridge DPW pickup recycling program. Check with DPW for your collection schedule.

 

Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

  • Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
  • Review your emergency escape plan with family and guests. Include your pets in the escape plan.
  • For a fire or other emergency: alert everyone, get to a safe area, and call 911 immediately.

 

Make the Christmas/Holiday Season a Safe one for Everyone!

Christmas Holiday tree safety NFPA photo

Page was posted on 12/4/2023 10:12 AM
Page was last modified on 12/19/2023 5:07 PM
Contact Us

How can we help?

Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:

As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.

Read our complete privacy statement


Service Requests

Enter a service request via SeeClickFix for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here