Advent, Advent, the Christmas tree is burning!
13.12.2017
Translation: machine translated
Video: Manuel Wenk
You can buy Christmas trees at Galaxus. You can buy fire extinguishers at Galaxus. A hot combination. We wanted to find out and deliberately set a tree on fire. Firefighter Sophie helped us put it out.
Sophie Scaramuzza is a TV editor. She is the manager of a zero-waste shop. She is a passionate baking blogger. And she will soon be back on TV in "Ivo and the baking detectives". She also works for the Spreitenbach-Killwangen volunteer fire brigade.
Sophie was immediately hooked when I asked her to take part in our infotainment project "Advent, Advent, the Christmas tree is burning". And so Sophie, video producer Manuel Wenk and I headed to the stadium wasteland one day in December to be shown how to expertly extinguish a burning Christmas tree.
What's the most important thing when you put a tree in your home, I ask Sophie. "You absolutely have to water the tree. As long as the wood and especially the needles are still moist, the tree won't burn down suddenly. Trees with dry needles burn down very quickly. It only takes 30 seconds," she says. So be careful towards the end of the Christmas season, it's better not to light the candles one last time when the tree is already dropping its first needles.
Know the fire extinguisher
According to the firefighter, it is also important to familiarise yourself with extinguishing fires before an emergency occurs. This means: at a minimum, there should always be a bucket of water next to a tree. It is also a good idea to have a small cleaning brush or a plant sprayer ready. In an emergency, dip the broom into the water and spray the tree with it. This is very effective for a small fire that spreads slowly.
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If you have a fire extinguisher at home, you need to familiarise yourself with how to use it before an emergency: "Read up on how the thing works. You need to know how to release the safety pin or which button to press. In an emergency, you don't have time to look at the operating instructions or think about it for too long." A dry tree that burns down very quickly can quickly set fire to curtains and carpets: "It's pressing. And if smoke obscures your view, you no longer have a chance to look at the pictures on the fire extinguisher."
Tip from Sophie: A small fire extinguisher can of course only put out smaller fires. But it is lighter: "A large, heavy fire extinguisher can no longer be held with one hand while the safety mechanism is released with the other." Choosing the right fire extinguisher therefore also depends on the user. From small to large: fire extinguishers with 2 kg filling weight, 6 kg filling weight or 6 litre capacity.
Important: You cannot use half of a fire extinguisher and save the rest for the next fire. As soon as the extinguisher is empty, it is considered used up. You should have it refilled or secured.
It's on fire! What to do
How should you react if an emergency occurs? "First of all, call the fire brigade. Call 118", says Sophie. Once you've done that, you can try to extinguish the fire yourself, provided you have the right preparation and equipment.
If you use a fire extinguisher, the following applies: The fire should be extinguished from the bottom up. So hold the foam or powder extinguisher at the bottom of the tree first and work your way upwards. Sophie's tip for powder extinguishers: "Even if you have one of these next to the tree, keep water handy. Powder extinguishers make a huge mess! You should pour a bucket of water after the first extinguishing."
Watch out with glass balls too. They are more precious than plastic balls, but explode when they get hot. "That doesn't bother me thanks to the fire safety equipment. But everyone around me does. It could hurt!" Sophie warns us before the shoot. I didn't realise that and kept a respectful distance during the shoot.
Which fire extinguisher for what purpose?
Can you also fight the fire with a fire blanket? "Not for a burning tree", says the firefighter, "you use a fire blanket to smother small fires by removing the oxygen". For example, if a power supply unit or a pan is on fire. You have to cover the fire completely with a fire blanket, otherwise it's useless. "You also have to make sure that you place the blanket over the fire away from you. Otherwise the flames will burst through under the blanket and injure your arms and legs."
Uuuuand action!
So much for the theory. Now it's time for the practical part (see video). I got two trees for the test. Both were in the office. I watered one and deliberately let the second one get thirsty to simulate the situation towards the end of the Christmas period. This Christmas tree actually burnt much faster, although it only suffered from thirst over the weekend. It dries out very quickly in the dry air in the flat if it is not watered.
I bought two small 2kg extinguishers. I'm particularly surprised how long such a small fire extinguisher lasts. They have different trigger mechanisms. With one product, Sophie has to pull out the safety pin and then spray it with powder. The second has two buttons and is easier for Sophie to use. She manages to extinguish the tree fire with both. Incidentally, the application lasts for about 15 seconds. Then the powder is "shot".
The most important tips
- Never take your eyes off burning candles
- Place Advent wreaths on a glass plate or other non-flammable base
- Make sure that the tree has enough water and check this regularly
- Get to grips with firefighting before there is a fire !- Read the instructions for your fire extinguisher before using it
- If you want to use real candles, use safety candles. Their wick does not reach all the way down, so they go out by themselves .- String lights are less dangerous than real candles
- Light chains that you hang outside must be weatherproof!
Many thanks to Sophie Scaramuzza and the Spreitenbach-Killwangen volunteer fire brigade! We wish everyone a happy and, above all, fire-free Christmas.
Delicious desserts from Sophie
As mentioned, Sophie can not only extinguish fires, but also conjure up delicious baked goods.
Aurel Stevens
Chief Editor
aurel.stevens@digitecgalaxus.chI'm the master tamer at the flea circus that is the editorial team, a nine-to-five writer and 24/7 dad. Technology, computers and hi-fi make me tick. On top of that, I’m a rain-or-shine cyclist and generally in a good mood.
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