Christmas trees and other holiday décor are a tradition in many households but neglect can lead to dire consequences.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that home fires cause an average of 251K deaths (seven people die in U.S. home fires per day) and 123K injuries per year. Home fires accounted for 93% of structure fire deaths and 87% of structure fire injuries. Just 4% of home fires start in the living room, family room, or den, but these incidents cause 24% of fire deaths and 10% of fire injuries.
Defective products, unattended heating equipment, or electrical malfunctions can contribute to serious injuries. Guardia recommends paying attention to the following causes of holiday fire injuries during the holidays:
- String lights that have loose connections, cracked lamps, or frayed cords.
- Multiple extension cords that are too long and can get tangled.
- Lights and cords that don’t have UL approval.
- Lights that aren’t turned off when you go out and before you turn in for the night.
- Outdoor light connectors that are close to metal rain gutters and placed on the ground.
- Candles that are used to light or decorate a tree.
- Decorating trees that are not freshly cut.
- Trees that are not placed at least three feet away from any heat source.
- Trees that become dry and are not removed from the home after Christmas.
- Christmas tree branches or wrapping paper burned in the fireplace.
It is important to keep the aforementioned points in mind to ensure a safer, better holiday season this year.
