Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

Christmas is just around the corner and many people love having a Christmas tree up. 

But did you know? 

• Between 2013-2017, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of three deaths, 15 injuries, and $10 million in direct property damage annually.
• On average, one of every 52 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 135 total reported home fires.
• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 44% of home Christmas tree fires.
• In one-quarter (25%) of the Christmas tree fires, some type of heat sources, such as a candle or equipment, were too close to the tree.
• One-fifth (21%) of Christmas tree fires were intentional. 
• Roughly three-quarters of Christmas tree fires occurred in December or January.
• Two of every five (39%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.

A live Christmas tree burn conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows just how quickly a dried-out Christmas tree fire burns, with flashover occurring in less than one minute, as compared to a well-watered tree, which burns at a much slower rate.

Holiday decorations

• U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 780 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees, in 2013-2017. These fires caused an annual average of three civilian fire deaths, 34 civilian fire injuries, and $12 million in direct property damage.
• Nine percent of decoration fires were intentional.
• The decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle or equipment in more than two of every five (44%) fires.
• One-fifth (21%) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen. Sixteen percent started in the living room, family room or den.
• One-fifth (20%) of the home decoration fires occurred in December.  

Candles

• On average, 22 home candle fires were reported each day between 2013-2017.
• Three of every five (60%) candle fires started when something that could burn, such as furniture, mattresses or bedding, curtains, or decorations, was too close to the candle.
• Candle fires peak in December. January ranked second. Eighteen percent of December candle fires started in the living room and 8% started in the dining room compared to 14% and 3% for those areas during the rest of the year.
• The two peak days for candle fires were Christmas and Christmas Eve.

Holiday cooking

• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

• Cooking equipment was involved in one of every five (19%) home decoration fires. This can happen when a decoration is left on or too close to a stove or other cooking equipment. 

Fireworks

• Ten percent of fireworks fires occur during the period from December 30 through January 3, with the peak on New Year's Day.

National Fire Protection Association - Christmas Fire Stats

Some tips on how to prevent a fire or damage during the holidays.

1. Pick a fresh-looking tree.
2. Keep the tree watered. 
3. Keep the tree away from heat. 
4. Shake the tree often to remove dried pines. 
5. Check the tree's lights look for burned bulbs.
6. Turn off your tree's lights when sleeping or not at home.
7. Get rid of your tree soon after the holidays.

We at SERVPRO of West Brevard are here to help. 

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