Toronto Christmas Tree Fire Safety: Ontario Code for Businesses

The holiday season brings joy, festive decorations, and often, a beautiful Christmas tree. While a twinkling tree is the centrepiece of the celebration, it can quickly become a serious fire hazard if safety precautions are ignored, especially in a business setting where foot traffic and electrical use are high.

At Sterling Safety, we prioritize your protection. Here are our essential tips to ensure your holiday display stays merry and bright, without the risk of fire.

1. Choosing and Maintaining a Live Tree

A dry Christmas tree is extremely flammable, and fire can consume it in seconds. Proper selection and maintenance are your first line of defense:

• Choose Freshness: Select a live tree that is genuinely fresh. Needles should be green and difficult to pull off, and the stump should feel sticky with resin. If the needles break easily or fall off when touched, the tree is already too dry.

• A Fresh Cut and Constant Water: When you bring the tree into your office or commercial space, make a fresh, straight cut across the base of the trunk (about an inch) before placing it in the stand. Water the tree daily! A fresh cut allows the tree to absorb water effectively. The water level in the stand should never drop below the base of the trunk.

• Timely Disposal: Even with daily watering, a tree dries out over time. When needles start dropping in large quantities, it's time to remove the tree immediately. Do not leave the tree up for more than 10-14 days. Never put a dry tree in a fireplace or near a heat source.

2. Location, Location, Location

Where you place your tree is critical for preventing accidental ignition and ensuring clear escape routes.

• Maintain Distance: Place the tree at least three feet away from all heat sources, including radiators, fireplaces, portable heaters, candles, and heat vents. Even indirect heat can cause a tree to dry out faster.

• Keep Exits Clear: The tree must not block any doorways, exits, windows, or corridors. Ensure that in an emergency, the tree does not impede your fire escape plan.

• Consider Artificial Trees: If you opt for an artificial tree, ensure it is labeled "fire resistant" or "flame retardant." While not fireproof, these materials are much safer than non-treated plastic.

3. Safe Lighting and Electrical Practices

Faulty lights and overloaded circuits are the most common causes of tree fires. Safety starts with a thorough inspection.

• Check and Inspect: Before decorating, carefully inspect all light strands and extension cords. Discard any sets with frayed or cracked wires, broken sockets, or loose connections.

• Use Certified Lights: Only use lights tested by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (like UL, CSA, or ETL).

• Mind the Load: Never connect more than the manufacturer's recommended number of light strands (usually a maximum of three standard sets). Do not overload electrical outlets or run cords under rugs, which can damage insulation and cause overheating.

• Turn Them Off: Always turn off your Christmas tree lights—and any other decorative lighting—when you leave the building or when everyone goes home for the night. Consider using a timer to manage the lights for convenience and safety.

4. Decorations and Open Flames

Be mindful of the materials you use to trim your tree and the presence of open flames nearby.

• Flame-Resistant Decorations: Use only non-combustible or flame-retardant decorations. Avoid using crepe paper or highly flammable materials.

• NO Candles: Never use real, lit candles on a Christmas tree or near any other flammable decorations. For a cozy glow, choose battery-operated LED candles, which are a safe alternative.

The holidays should be safe and enjoyable. By following these simple but vital fire safety tips, you can protect your business, employees, and customers this season.

Sterling Safety: Preventing incidents, protecting assets.