Crime & Safety

FCFRD News Blog : Home Holiday Fire Facts

It is that wonderful time of year when there are many holiday celebrations occurring. Please take a moment to review the below facts and ...

Press Release Desk, News Partner

Press release from the FCFRD News Blog:

December 21, 2021

It is that wonderful time of year when there are many holiday celebrations occurring. Please take a moment to review the below facts and video about home holiday fires from our partners in safety at the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association.

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  • Between 2015-2019 , U.S. fire departments responded to an average 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of two deaths, 12 injuries, and $10 million in direct property damage annually.
  • Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in almost half of home Christmas tree fires. Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires were stared by decorative lights.
  • In nearly one-fifth of the Christmas tree fires, some type of heat source, such as a candle or equipment, was too close to the tree.
  • One in five Christmas tree fires were intentional. These fires were more common in January.
  • Roughly three-quarters of Christmas tree fires occurred in December or January.
  • Almost two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.
  • U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees, in 2015-2019. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 26 civilian fire injuries and $13 million in direct property damage.
  • One in five home decoration fires occurred in December.
  • The decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle or equipment in more than two of every five incidents.
  • Year-round, more than one-third of home decoration fires were started by candles. Cooking started 19 percent of decoration fires, 12 percent involved electrical distribution and lighting equipment, heating equipment was involved in 11 percent, 8 percent were intentionally set, and smoking materials started 7 percent.
  • Candles caused 45 percent of home decoration fires in December.

    • Source: NFPA’s Applied Research

    This press release was produced by the FCFRD News Blog. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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