December 6, 2002
Use Caution with Christmas Trees to Prevent Fires
BLACKSBURG -- Real Christmas trees have come under scrutiny in recent years because of their perceived fire hazard, but what are the facts?
"Each year, approximately 33 million real Christmas trees are bought in the United States and enjoyed as the traditional centerpiece of holiday celebrations," says Bobby Grisso, Virginia Cooperative Extension engineer at Virginia Tech. Yet, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fewer than one-one thousandth of 1 percent of all real Christmas trees are involved in a residential fire. The NFPA also says that of the 446,000 residential fires reported between 1992 and 1996, only about 530 involved a real or artificial Christmas tree. This amounts to about one-tenth of 1 percent of all residential fires.
"Although the risk is slim, it's still important to think about fire safety when setting up a Christmas tree," says Grisso. He offers the following tips to help prevent the chance of a fire involving real Christmas trees:
- Select a fresh tree and care for it properly. Make a clean cut across the tree's base and immediately place it in water.
- Keep the tree's water container full at all times, checking the water level daily.
- Be careful with electricity, open flames, and other heat sources.
- Check all Christmas tree lights, other electric decorations, and appliances for wear, such as frayed cords. Don't use lights, decorations, or appliances with worn electrical cords.
- Use only UL (Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.) approved electrical decorations and extension cords.
- Place the Christmas tree well away from heat registers, space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, televisions, computer monitors, and other heat sources.
- Do not block a room exit with the tree.
- Unplug tree lights and other decorations when out of the room or sleeping. It's important to remember a real Christmas tree can't start a fire, but it can be ignited by an external source.
If a real Christmas tree is less likely than many other household items to be the first material ignited in a residential fire, what are the most likely?
"Newspapers and magazines are 13 times more likely. Boxes or bags are 10 times more likely. Curtains or drapes are nine times more likely. Linens are eight times more likely," says Grisso. "It is important to watch electrical decoration and candles around every combustable item, including clothing, which is two times more likely to catch fire than a Christmas Tree."
Contact: Robert Grisso
Virginia Cooperative Extension Safety Engineer
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6538
rgrisso@vt.edu
Writer: Nancy Templeman
Agriculture and Extension Communications
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6185
templemn@vt.edu
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