Holiday Fire Facts
The joyous celebrations, the sparkling lights, and winter greens are the highlights of the holiday season, but they also carry hazards that could turn this joyful time of the year into a disastrous one due to a fire. We are committed to educating on the dangers of fires during the holidays and provide tips to ensure everyone is safe during the holiday season.
Holiday Fire Facts
- U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated number of 790 fires in homes each year, which began with the holiday decorations, not including Christmas trees. These fires resulted in an average of 4 fire-related civilian deaths, 33 injuries from fire, and 14 million in property damage directly.
- Lighting equipment or electrical distribution was the cause of over five holiday tree-related fires.
- A majority of Christmas tree fires are caused by bulbs or lamps. 8 percent were started by candles.
- About two out of five fires of Christmas trees in the home began in the living room.
- The highest number of candle fires occur in January and December with 11% of all candle fires occurring in both months.
- Thanksgiving is the most popular day for cooking at home, then comes Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.
- All through the year, all year round, one-third (33 percent) of fires in homes were ignited by candles. The number jumped up to more than half in December when candles ignited the fires of 46. Cooking ignited one-fifth (19 percent) of fires for decoration.
- One in five Christmas tree fires end up started with lamps or bulbs
- Thanksgiving is the main holiday where fires start the most
Christmas Tree and Decoration Fires
Holiday Fire Facts
A well-lit home will make the holidays more secure. Between 2017 and 2021, US fire departments were able to respond to an average of 150 house fires that began with Christmas tree fires each year. US fire departments were able to respond to an average of 793 house fires in the structure each year, which started with decorations, but not Christmas trees.
Christmas Tree Removal
Holiday Fire Facts
When Christmas trees are dried out they get more flammable. Three-quarters of all Christmas tree fires occurred in January. While Christmas tree fires aren’t uncommon, they can spread extremely quickly.
Holiday Cooking
For 2021 the top three dates for fires in homes that resulted from cooking were Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, along with Christmas Eve. It’s therefore important to understand how you can take action to ensure that your loved ones and family members are safe as you entertain them for the holidays.