The Christmas holidays, and winter itself, are peak times for house fires to occur. The NFPA reports that 30% of all house fires happen in the months of December, January, and February.
It is important to stay vigilant, take proper precautions, and be mindful of all the different things that can cause fires this time of year - Christmas trees and lights, candles, space heaters and fireplaces.
Facts about home holiday fires:
- One of every four home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems.
- Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious. On average, one of every 32 reported home Christmas tree fires results in a death compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.
- A heat source too close to the tree causes one in every four Christmas tree fires.
- The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year's Day, and Christmas Eve.
- Candles start two out of five home decoration structure fires.
Source: National Fire Protection Association
To learn more facts about holiday fires and how to prevent them, view the following infographics: Put a Freeze on Holiday Winter Fires by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and Wrapping up the Holidays - Preventing Winter Fires by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
You can also read our previous blog posts on holiday fires: Don't Let Your Christmas Tree Go Up in Flames! and Let Us Help Protect Your Family from Holiday Fires.
What could be more festive or fun than a beautiful, live tree twinkling with lights gracing your living room during the holiday season? It's just not Christmas without the tree and, for some people, that tree must be real.
A real, live tree is a beauty to behold and, though it can require more upkeep, is often worth the extra hassle just to enjoy the smell of pine and the look that only a real tree can provide.
Along with that extra cleanup, however, comes extra safety precautions. Let Alarm Center provide you with the information and tips you need to keep your home and loved ones safe this Christmas season.
The first thing to remember about natural trees is that there is a significantly higher fire risk than with artificial trees, which have often been treated with flame-retardant materials.
Christmas tree fires, though rare, are - according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - more hazardous. When they do occur, they cause more damage and have a higher likelihood of causing death. In fact, according to the NFPA report, Home Christmas Tree and Holiday Light Fires:
On average, one of every 18 reported home structure Christmas tree fires resulted in a death compared to an average of one death per 141 total reported home structure fires.
What the NFPA found is that natural trees kept moist and regularly watered are "are unlikely to catch fire unintentionally".
To show just how quickly a dry tree can go up in flames and fire can consume the room it is in, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) put out this important, yet terrifying, video demonstration:
And while you may have seen the above video, you might not be aware of it's equally important and eye-opening cousin, which shows a shocking side-by-side comparison of both a dry and a properly maintained "wet" tree catching fire.
Both videos, and more information, can be found on the NIST's informative Fire Safety for the Holidays page. Other pages with equally good information that we recommend you check out:
You can also review this handy, visual guide, Christmas Tree Safety, compiled by the NFPA. Click here for a printable .pdf version.
We here at Alarm Center want to help keep you, your home, and especially your loved ones safe this holiday season - and always! Check back here for more safety information and tips to help you do just that year-round.
[Call Alarm Center Security today for a FREE quote on a security system for your home or business - 1-800-97-ALARM - or visit our website to see if you qualify for a $0 down installation - alarm.net]
