Selecting a Christmas Tree
Make sure the tree is fresh, not dry and losing it's needles.
If buying a pre-cut tree, be sure to make a new cut approximately one inch above the old cut to facilitate water movement through the cells.
Leave the tree outside until you are ready to decorate it.
Trees that are cut early are a greater danger than trees cut relatively close to Christmas.
Only artificial Christmas trees are to be displayed in commercial and office buildings or stores.

How to make your tree fireproof
Traditionally, we take a dead tree (usually a spruce or fir, which is highly flammable when dry) set it in our homes and wrap it with electric wires. What an invitation for a fire! 

This remedy should make your Christmas tree fireproof, provided that you follow the directions carefully, 
Ingredients:
Two cups of Karo syrup
Two ounces of liquid chlorine bleach
Two pinches of Epsom salt
One-half teaspoon of Borax
One teaspoon of chelated iron
Hot water

You can purchase the Karo syrup, Borax and liquid chlorine bleach from your supermarket. The Epsom salt can be purchased from the drug store and the chelated iron (pronounced key-lated) can be purchased from a garden shop or plant store.

Procedure:
1. Mix your fireproofing ingredients listed above. Fill a two-gallon bucket with hot water to within one inch of the top and add the ingredients. Stir thoroughly, dissolving ingredients. Put to side.

2. With a saw, take your recently-purchased Christmas tree and make a fresh cut at the base on the tree trunk. Cut an inch off the base of the tree. Try to make a level cut.

3. Immediately stand the trunk of the tree in the solution and leave for 24 hours.

4. Keep the remaining solution. Place your tree in a tree stand that contains a well where liquids can be poured.

5. When the tree is in its final resting place, use a plastic cup to pour solution from the bucket into the tree well. Fill the well.

6. Every day without exception, the well of the tree stand must be "topped off" with the solution from the two-gallon bucket.

Follow these simple directions and your tree should be fireproofed. It may save your home and family from those fire tragedies we hear about around the holidays. If you're curious, after Christmas when you remove your tree, snap off a branch and try to set it on fire, OUTDOORS.

How does the solution work?
In a nutshell, the Karo syrup provides the sugar necessary to allow the base of the tree to take up water. Up to 1.5 gallons of water can be taken up by the tree over a two-week period. Boron in the Borax allows the tree to move the water and sugar out to every branch and needle in your tree. Magnesium compounds in the Epsom salt and iron from the chelated iron provide essential components for the production of chlorophyll which will keep the tree green. The bleach prevents mold from forming in your solution.

Some of the other beneficial side effects of this procedure are that the needles will not drop and you will notice an increase in natural pine fragrance. 

Tree Decorating

Before using lights on the tree make sure that they are UL listed. Never use more than three strings of lights on one circuit.

Make sure that all connections are tight and the bulbs and cords are in good condition, not loose or frayed as to cause a short.

Replace older style, light bulb type lights. These light bulbs produce too much heat and can cause various problems.

When buying new lights, buy low-heat mini-lights. These lights are much safer.

Remember: If any of your lights are too hot to handle, you run the risk of someone (especially a child) touching the lights and burning their hands.

Be able to turn off the lights without having to crawl under the tree.

Artificial trees should be made of flame resistant materials, and lights should never be used on trees with metal frames.

Never leave the lights on when leaving the house or when going to bed.

Keep candles away from Christmas trees. Never use candles as Christmas tree decorations.

When shopping for Christmas tree ornaments, attempt to find ones that are flame resistant.

If purchasing special electrical or battery-powered ornaments, such as special smoke detector ornaments make sure they are approved for home use.

Selecting a Location

When selecting a location to setup your tree, attempt to locate it in a cool location.

Avoid placing it in an area close to heating appliances or the fireplace. This will not only dry the tree out prematurely, but can also increase the chance of accidental ignition.

Keep the tree out of high traffic areas, and away from stairways and doors.

Secure the tree so that it cannot be knocked over by pets or a small child.

Place the tree in water and make sure to check the water level daily.

When to Remove a Tree

The Fire Department recommends that a tree be removed from the home in the event that it becomes dry and begins shedding needles. DON'T TAKE A CHANCE.

Remove the tree as soon as possible after Christmas. Dispose of all papers and boxes at once; do not allow them to accumulate.

NEVER burn a tree in a fireplace. Dry Christmas trees burn very hot and extremely quick. The fire may rapidly leave the fireplace and move into your room. Also, a Christmas tree is very oily and may damage your fireplace.

For Beech Grove residences trees will be picked up at curb side, on normal trash days. There is no public drop off of trees in the City of Beech Grove. Any questions about tree pickup please call Public Works at 788-4982.