Key Takeaways
- U.S. fire departments respond to about 160 Christmas tree fires and 790 holiday decoration fires in homes each year.
- Nearly half of Christmas tree fires involve electrical distribution or lighting equipment.
- Candles start 45% of decoration fires in December, and Christmas Day is the peak day for candle fires.
- About 1 in 5 tree fires happens because the tree was too close to a heat source.
- Most of these fires are preventable with a watered tree, safe lights, and flameless candles.
The holidays should be all about lights, family and fun. But December is also a busy month for home fires, and Christmas trees, lights and candles play a big part. Here are the numbers every family should know, and simple ways to keep your home safe.
Annual averages from NFPA data for 2015–2019.
How Often Do Christmas Trees Catch Fire?
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas trees started an average of 160 home fires a year from 2015 to 2019. These fires caused about 2 deaths, 12 injuries and $10 million in property damage each year.
A dry tree is the real danger. Once the needles dry out, a single spark from a faulty light or a nearby heater can turn into a large fire in seconds. Here’s what usually starts them:
- Electrical and lighting problems: involved in nearly half of Christmas tree fires.
- Decorative lights: started almost 1 in 5 tree fires.
- Heat sources too close: about 1 in 5 fires happened when a tree sat too close to a heater, fireplace or similar heat source.
- Candles: started about 8% of tree fires.
Candles Are the Biggest Decoration Risk in December
It’s hard to picture Christmas without candles, but they’re a leading cause of holiday decoration fires. NFPA data show:
- Candles start 35% of home decoration fires during the year, and 45% in December.
- Christmas Day has about 2.5 times the average number of candle fires. Christmas Eve comes in second.
- In 6 out of 10 candle fires, the candle was too close to something that could burn, like curtains, decorations or furniture.
Quick tip: Swap real candles for battery-operated flameless candles. You get the same cozy glow with none of the fire risk.
Why Holiday Decoration Fires Are So Dangerous
Tree and decoration fires spread fast because they involve dry, lightweight material. A U.S. Fire Administration study found that Christmas tree and holiday decoration fires caused twice the injuries and five times more deaths per fire than the average winter holiday fire.
That same study, which covered 2004 to 2008, counted about 260 home fires a year that started with Christmas trees and about 150 a year that started with decorative lights. Other holiday decorations started about 1,170 home fires a year, causing 8 deaths, 54 injuries and $19.1 million in damage.
The Hidden Holiday Risk: Falls While Decorating
Fire isn’t the only danger. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says there are about 160 decorating-related injuries every day during the holiday season, and more than 40% of them involve falls. In one recent season, about 14,800 people were treated in emergency rooms for decorating injuries.
How to Keep Your Holidays Fire-Safe
- Water your tree every day. A fresh, well-watered tree is much harder to ignite than a dry one.
- Keep the tree at least 3 feet from heat sources like fireplaces, heaters, vents and lamps.
- Check your lights before hanging them. Throw out strands with frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
- Use lights made for the job. Some lights are for indoor use only, so read the label before using them outside.
- Turn lights off before you go to bed or leave the house.
- Don’t overload outlets or link more strands together than the maker recommends.
- Choose flameless candles, or keep real candles at least 1 foot away from anything that can burn.
- Get rid of your tree once it starts dropping needles after the holidays.
Let a pro handle the outdoor lights. Our insured crew at Elite Christmas Lighting does all the ladder work and uses LED lights, which run much cooler than old incandescent bulbs. Get a free quote.
Sources
- NFPA: Winter holiday fire safety (Christmas tree, decoration and candle fire data, 2015–2019)
- NFPA: Christmas tree fires report
- U.S. Fire Administration: Residential structure fires during the winter holiday season (2004–2008)
- CPSC: Make it a Home Safe Home for the Holidays
