CARY FIREFIGHTERS TO HOLD ANNUAL TREE BURN

TO PROMOTE FIRE SAFETY

WHAT:            Firefighters will burn a holiday tree to illustrate the fire risk associated with dry, natural-cut trees.

WHEN:          Wednesday, December 21, 2005

                        5:30 p.m.

WHERE:       Town of Cary Fire Station 1

1501 N. Harrison Ave.

 WHO:            Cary Firefighters will ignite two dry trees; one will be housed in a room with a sprinkler head and the other will be burned in a room without a sprinkler head.

BACKGROUND:

Christmas tree fires cause an average of 14 civilian deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and $16.2 million in direct property damage each year.  Sixty-one percent of the annual home tree fires are reported in December.  During the week of December 22-28, the number of fires spike, including real and artificial tree fires. 

Sprinkler systems can help lower these numbers by saving lives, protecting valuables and lowering insurance rates.

DIRECTIONS:

From I-40, take the North Harrison Avenue exit and travel south to downtown Cary .  The fire station will be one mile on the right.

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