Many hallmarks of the holiday season, including Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and festive meals, present potential fire hazards that contribute to an annual increase in home fires this time of year.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day join holidays such as New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving in rounding out the top days for home fires.
“December is a leading month for home fires, in large part because many of the activities we engage in during the holiday season reflect leading causes of home fires year-round,” NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy Lorraine Carli said. “Plus, as colder temperatures impact much of the country, use of heating equipment increases significantly.”
Fortunately, Carli notes, the majority of winter fires can be prevented with a little added awareness on planning.
“By knowing where the potential fire hazards exist and taking some basic safety precautions to prevent them, people can enjoy a festive, fire-free holiday season,” Carli said.
NFPA has issued the following tips and guidelines for helping reduce the risk of fires:
Christmas trees
- An average of 150 home fires involving Christmas trees are reported by U.S. fire departments each year.
- Electrical distribution or lighting equipment, such as decorative lights, are involved in more than two of five (44%) home Christmas tree fires.
- Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires (19%) are started by decorative lights. 8% are started by candles.
- As Christmas trees dry out, they become more flammable. 30% of Christmas tree fires occur each January.
Decorations
- An estimated average of 790 home fires begin when decorations (excluding Christmas trees) catch fire. These fires cause an annual average of four civilian fire deaths, 33 civilian fire injuries, and $14 million in direct property damage.
- 17% of home decoration fires occur in December.
- In 48% of fires involving decorations, the decorations are too close to a heat source such as candles or operating equipment.
Candles
- An estimated average of 5,700 home fires (2%) are started by candles causing an average of 80 civilian deaths (3%), 560 civilian injuries (5%), and $247 million (3%) in direct property damage each year.
- Year-round, 33% of fires begin with candles; in December, that number jumps to at least 46%.
- Christmas is the peak day for candle fires, at a yearly average of 35 fires, roughly 2.5 times the daily average; Christmas Eve ranked second. New Year’s Day is ranked third, with 30 fires per day on average.
- In three of every five candle fires, the candle is too close to something that could catch fire.
- Falling asleep without extinguishing the flame is a factor in 10% of home candle fires and 12% of the associated deaths.
Cooking
- Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires (49%) and home fire injuries and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths.
- Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.
- Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve
