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Fire Safety During the Holidays
The Holiday season is typically regarded as extending from late November to early January and includes Hanukkah, Christmas,
Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Day. Each year, newspapers are filled with tragic stories of families killed
by fires that are ignited by the family Christmas tree. As the season progresses and trees become drier, the incidence of Christmas
tree fires worsens, as shown
- December 1 - 14 = 1.2 Tree Fires/day
- December 15 - 31 = 7.7 Tree Fires/day
In residential structure fires where the ignition point is a Christmas tree or other holiday decoration,
the fire is typically more severe in every measurable way. Injuries, fatalities, and property loss are
higher than average. This is indicative of the potentially rapid ignition and spread of a tree or decoration
fire. One fire official likened a dry Christmas tree to a “bomb” in the middle of one’s home. In reaction to winter’s cold
weather, most people turn up the heat in their homes, which dries Christmas trees even more. Coupled with faulty wiring or lit
candles, a Christmas tree provides sufficient fuel to ignite a serious fire. The most common form of heat
of ignition for Christmas fires is that of gas-fueled equipment, including pilot lights and gas fireplaces.
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