NFPA Fact Sheets
Christmas Tree Fires
Carefully
decorating Christmas trees can help make your holidays
safer.
Facts & Figures
In
1999, Christmas trees were the first item ignited in an
estimated 370 home fires, resulting in 5 deaths, 60
injuries and $15.7 million in direct property damage.
The leading heat source attributed to Christmas tree
fires, civilian injuries and property damage was
electrical arcing, accounting for 130 fires (34%), no
civilian deaths, 20 civilian injuries and $5.9 million
in direct property damage in 1999.
The leading type of equipment involved in the ignition
of Christmas trees were lights and cords and plugs.
Safety Tips
-
When decorating
Christmas trees, always use safe tree lights. (Some
lights are designed only for indoor or outdoor use,
but not both.) Larger tree lights should also have
some type of reflector rather than a bare bulb and
all lights should be listed by a testing laboratory.
-
Never use
electric lights on a metal tree.
-
Follow the
manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree
lights. Any string of lights with worn, frayed or
broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be
used.
-
Always unplug
Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going
to sleep.
-
Never use lit
candles to decorate a tree, and place them well away
from tree branches.
-
Try to keep live
trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of
water daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or
dropping needles.
-
Choose a sturdy
tree stand designed not to tip over.
-
When purchasing
an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as
fire-retardant.
-
Children are
fascinated with Christmas trees. Keep a watchful eye
on them when around the tree and do not let them
play with the wiring or lights.
-
Store matches and
lighters up high, out of the reach of children,
preferably in a locked cabinet.
-
Make sure the
tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from
any heat source and try to position it near an
outlet so that cords are not running long distances.
Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
-
Safely dispose of
the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out
trees are highly flammable and should not be left in
a house or garage, or placed against the house.
For more
information see NFPA at
www.nfpa.org
