Deadly Christmas Trees: Fire Safety Tips For The Holidays

NORTH CAROLINA — Tis the season for festive holiday cheer… and oodles of fire hazards. Everywhere you look this time of year it seems, there’s a potential hazard, such as faulty lighting equipment, which are responsible for at least 43 percent of Christmas tree fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

And while your living room, family room or den may be the cozy center of your home, it's also statistically the prime spot for Christmas tree fires. Two out of every five Christmas tree fires starts in either the living room, family room or den, and account for at least 75 percent of holiday fire fatalities, the organization said.

Just how dangerous is the Christmas season? On average each season, fire departments respond to about 170 home fires that started with Christmas trees that result in about four deaths, 15 injuries and about $12 million in direct property damage.

Trees, however, aren’t the only threat. There are about 800 fires each season in the U.S. that start with holiday decorations, such as candles. Potential dangers also lurk in the kitchen, where unattended cooking is responsible for about a third of all home cooking fires, and about half of fire related deaths.

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WATCH: Here’s how fast a Christmas tree burns

Here are some fire prevention tips from the National Fire Protection Association:

Holiday Decorations

• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
• 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. Read and follow manufacturer's instructions for number of light strands to connect.
• Keep decorations away from windows and doors, they can block your escape
• Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Make sure the Christmas tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles or heat vents or lights.
• Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily – DO NOT let your tree dry out.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Cooking

• Alcohol and cooking do not mix – consider not using the stove top or oven if you have consumed a lot of alcohol.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• If you have a small (grease) or cooking fire:
• Stove top: place a matching lid on top of the pot or pan, this will smother the fire. Remember to turn off the burner…do not remove the lid until everything is cool
• Oven: Turn off the heat immediately and leave the oven door closed

Tree Safety

• 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 daily.
• Use lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use.
• 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 a tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

After Christmas

• Get rid of the tree after Christmas or when it is dry.
• 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.

You can find more NFPA tips about Christmas tree safety here.

Photo: Fire from a fireplace consumes a room during a holiday safety live fire demonstration on December 9, 2010 in Menlo Park, California. The Menlo Park fire department held their annual holiday safety live fire demonstration to promote fire safety during the holidays. Demonstrations using live fire showed how quickly fires can consume a home when a dry Christmas tree comes in contact with fire or candles are left unattended. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)