Crime & Safety
Burning Christmas Tree Dramatically Illustrates Hazard: VIDEO
DC Fire and EMS personnel demonstrate the potential dangers of not watering your Christmas tree by setting one on fire.
WASHINGTON, DC — DC Fire Prevention Division personnel decided the best way to warn the public about the potential dangers of not watering a Christmas tree was to set one on fire. Within seconds, flames consumed the dry tree. A firefighter next attempted a similar stunt with a properly hydrated tree, but failed to get the second tree to catch fire.
From 2013 to 2017, the most recent years for which data is available, 160 home fires started with Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Forty-four percent of them were reportedly fueled by electrical problems.
On Friday, the DC Fire Prevention Division posted a video of the demonstration on the @dcfireems Twitter account.
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#DCsBravest Fire Prevention Division provided a graphic demonstration today showing how quickly a dry Christmas tree burns vs. one that is properly hydrated. pic.twitter.com/2eZt5Vl4Cs
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) December 20, 2019
Click here for more fire prevention tips for the holiday season.
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