Winter holiday fires by the numbers

Statistics and information for this article were provided by nfpa.org.

The 341st Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency services, along with National Fire Protection Association, recommend individuals take the time to review these safety reports, adhere to their findings, and follow all fire safety rules and regulations throughout the holidays to help all of us, not only the fire departments to have a safe and enjoyable holiday season!

Christmas trees

• Between 2011 and 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an average 200 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of six deaths, 16 injuries and $14.8 million in direct property damage annually.

• On average, one of every 32 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.

• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in two of every five home Christmas tree fires.

• In one-quarter, 26 percent of the Christmas tree fires and in 80 percent of the deaths some type of heat source, such as a candle or equipment, was too close to the tree.

• In one quarter, 24 percent of Christmas tree fires were intentional. 

• Forty-two percent of reported home Christmas tree fires occurred in December and 37 percent were reported in January. 

• More than one-third of home Christmas tree fires started in the living room, family room or den.

Source: NFPA's "Home Structure Fires Involving Christmas Trees" report 

A live Christmas tree burn conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission showed how quickly a dried out Christmas tree fire burned, with flashover occurring in less than one minute, as compared to a well-watered tree, which burns at a much slower rate.

Holiday decorations

• U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 840 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees, in 2011-2015. These fires caused an annual average of two civilian fire deaths, 36 civilian fire injuries and $11.4 million in direct property damage.

• Ten percent of decoration fires were intentional.

• Decorations were too close to a heat source, such as a candle or equipment, in two of every five fires.

• More than one-fifth of the decoration fires started in the kitchen. Fifteen percent started in the living room, family room or den.

• One-fifth of the home decoration fires occurred in December. 

Source: NFPA's "Home Structure Fires Involving Decorations" report

Candles

• Candles started more than one-third of home decoration structure fires. 

• More than half of the December home decoration fires were started by candles, compared to one-third in January to November.

• The top three days for home candle fires were Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and New Year's Eve.

Source: NFPA's "Home Structure Fires Involving Decorations" report

Holiday cooking

• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by the day before Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

• Cooking equipment was involved in 19 percent of home decoration fires. This can happen when a decoration is left on or too close to a stove or other cooking equipment.

Source: NFPA's "Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment" report

Fireworks

• Ten percent of fireworks fires occur during the period from December 30 through January 3, with the peak on New Year's Day.

Source: NFPA's "Fireworks" report