As millions of lights are now illuminating the trees on recognizable Las Vegas Strip properties during this holiday season, First Choice Tree Service reflects on how safety is the biggest role, followed closely by beauty.
Las Vegas’ premiere tree care service company, First Choice Tree Service, spent all of October pulling down old lights, trimming, then re-wrapping the towering 50-100 foot trees with twinkling holiday lights. The two major properties on the Strip have been using First Choice Tree Service for seven years to light up the properties with holiday magic.
While providing awe-inspiring beauty is one of the goals of the First Choice Tree Service (FCTS) team, safety is the primary importance.
“The biggest concern is to make sure we follow safety protocol and procedures for pedestrians below,” says Leon Pera, safety director for FCTS.
For this reason, all of the work occurs at night between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am when pedestrian traffic is the lowest. The 5-8 person crew climbs trees, and works on higher limbs via extension buckets. Some areas of the properties require working above bodies of water, which makes the job even more risky.
“First Choice Tree Service has always implemented the highest care in providing a safe work environment for its crew and for the general public,” says Tony Valenti, owner of First Choice Tree Service. Valenti, who is also a certified tree care safety professional (CTSP), takes pride in being one of a handful of professionals in Southern Nevada that is certified in safety by the Tree Care Industry Association.
Working in tandem with the property’s horticultural and engineering teams, lights are wrapped to specification to create the most dramatic effect.
“All the lights are white and we use over 3,000 strands of lights,” says Pera. Count the total number of trees and when the job is done, there are nearly 650,000 lights illuminating the sky.
While the tree care industry is ranked among one of the most dangerous professions in the U.S., the result of their work done is well worth it, especially if it’s enjoyed by millions of Las Vegas locals and visitors.
