Christmas Tree Fires Can Be Lethal in Seconds

Christmas tree fires can turn deadly in a matter of seconds, as this video released by the National Fire Protection Association reveals.

In less than 30 seconds, the temperature in the room is hot enough to combust flame-retardant upholstery and smoke levels are deadly. In its report on Christmas tree fires, the National Fire Protection Association notes that there are an average of 200 fires caused by Christmas trees annually, leading to an average of 6 deaths and 16 injuries. People are more likely to die as a result of a Christmas tree fire than from other causes of home fires.

Live Christmas trees and overloaded light sockets are the most common combustible combination, although people deliberately set fire to trees in nearly a quarter of these cases.

It goes without saying that a deliberately torched Tannenbaum will lead to personal liability for deaths and injuries, but accidental fires could also leave you facing a hefty court settlement. Homeowners or renters insurance may not bail you out if you acted negligently, and fire investigators will comb through every singed needle to determine the cause of a fire.

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

The best way to avoid Christmas tree fires is to avoid having a live tree, though this is not an absolute guarantee of safety. Artificial trees are flame retardant to varying degrees, but any tree will catch fire and burn if it is exposed to enough heat.

Follow these tips to minimize the risk of a Christmas tree fire:

LIVE TREES

• Keep the tree outdoors for as long as possible, where the air is not as dry.
• Cut at least four inches from the bottom of the stump before putting the tree in the stand so that it can take in water. Look for moist wood and a little sap as signs that you have reached a part of the tree that is still alive.
• Check the water in the tree stand twice daily and refill when the water drops below a level of one inch. Tress will take up a lot of water when they first come in the house, then drink less in the coming days.
• Place the tree as far as possible from heaters, radiators and fireplaces. Sources of heat will dry out the tree faster.
• Check outer branches for dryness. Even a well-watered tree will start to dry out after a couple of weeks. The needles may turn dark instead of brown. If they fall at the slightest touch and outer branches become brittle, remove the tree as quickly as possible.

ALL TREES

• Never place a tree near a fireplace. Sparks can ignite a well-watered tree, because tree sap is highly flammable. Heat from a fireplace can cause artificial trees to melt and combust.
• Never place a heater near a Christmas tree. Heating equipment causes 15% of Christmas tree fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Agency.
• Carefully inspect all lights. Discard light sets with frayed or broken wires. Consider replacing older incandescent lights with modern LED lights. These lights remain cool to the touch and they reduce energy use during the holidays, saving money on the electric bill.
• Do not overload electrical outlets. The safest way to light a tree is from a fused power strip plugged in to a standard wall outlet. The fuse will turn off the power in the event of a surge, potentially preventing a fire.
• Follow manufacturer recommendations for string lights. Packages will tell you how many sets can be strung together end to end. As a rule of thumb, it’s five sets for incandescent lights and eight sets for LED lights. Once you reach that limit, find a different electrical outlet if you need more lights.
• Do not put candles on or near a Christmas tree. Candles are responsible for 8% of Christmas tree fires on average, but candles and heating equipment cause 80% of Christmas tree fire deaths.
• Do not leave the tree lights plugged in while you sleep or when you are away from your home.
• Do not smoke around Christmas trees.

Remember that Christmas tree fires are a greater source of fire fatalities than other types of home fires. A dried Christmas tree is more combustible than newspaper, and a failure to follow fire safety and electrical safety rules for Christmas trees could leave you with significant liability.

Here at Sheff Law, we are not Scrooges when it comes to holiday fun. We encourage everyone to enjoy the traditions of the season, so long as candles and dried evergreens are kept well away from each other. We are also here with a team of personal injury lawyers to help anyone who has been hurt as the result of a fire. We provide free consultations with no obligation, and there is no charge for our services unless you receive a settlement. If you have any type of personal injury case, please contact us online or call us at 1-888-423-4477.