The holidays provide happy times, a chance to celebrate with family and friends.  Each year, fire departments respond to an average of 210 structure fires caused by Christmas trees.  These statistics are based on fires that started with Christmas trees and do not include fires starting with other products.  A small fire that spreads to a Christmas tree can very quickly become large.
Carefully decorating Christmas trees can help make your holidays safer!

• Christmas trees were the items first ignited in an estimated average of 310 reported U. S. home structure fires per year in 2000-2004.  These fires caused an average of 15 civilian deaths, 42 civilian injuries, and $17.2 million in direct property damage per year.  These statistics include both real and artificial trees.
• On average, one in every 22 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in a death.
• More than four of every ten home Christmas tree fires are caused by an electrical problem or malfunction.  One in four (24%) home Christmas tree fires resulted from a heat source placed too close to the tree.  Seven percent were started by children playing with fire.
• When equipment was involved in the ignition of the fire, lamps, bulbs or lighting (18%), and cords or plugs (13%) were cited more often than any other type of equipment.  No equipment was involved in 44% of these fires.
• Candles were the heat source in 8% of the home Christmas tree fires per year between 1999 and 2002.
• Sixty-one percent of the home Christmas tree fires were reported in December, 22% were reported in January.  Not surprisingly, the number of these fires spikes during the week of December 22-28.

Safety Tips
Picking the tree

• If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Placing the tree

• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1–2” from the base of the trunk.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.

Lighting the tree

• Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

After Christmas

• Get rid of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home. Check with your local community to find a recycling program. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.