Although fires involving your oh-so-lovely Christmas tree don’t happen very often, when they do occur, they can cause some serious damage.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, about one tenth of a percent of residential fires involve a Christmas tree — both real and artificial. From 2018 to 2022, fire departments in the U.S. responded to an average of 155 home structure fires each year started by Christmas trees, which resulted in four civilian deaths, several injuries and about $15 million in direct property damages each year, according to the NFPA’s website. New York ranks high among the nation’s home fire deaths at 105 in 2024, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
To keep your tree from getting crispy this Christmas, the Firefighters Association of the State of New York is joining forces with both Nassau and Suffolk County fire officials this month to host demonstrations showing how fast a Christmas tree can turn from festive to frightful. Last week, there was a demo at the Nassau County Fire Academy in Old Bethpage. A second demonstration is slated for Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank this week.
According to a press release from FASNY, fires involving fresh trees tend to be more common than artificial tree fires partially because fresh trees dry out over time, making them more flammable the longer they’re in the home.
“The most important thing with the live trees is to make sure you have plenty of water,” says Tom Gardella, mayor of Sag Harbor and former Sag Harbor Fire Department chief. FASNY guidelines urge people to water their tree daily. “Make sure you inspect all lights and cords for broken bulbs or frayed wires,” Gardella adds. “Placement of the tree is important also, making sure it’s not near a fireplace or ignition source.” Statistics from the FASNY show about 20 percent of Christmas tree fires occur due to some type of heat source being too close to the tree. Gardella also advises using a surge protector to make sure you don’t overload the outlet.
When choosing a fresh tree, there are also a few tips to consider. Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. To test this, start by grabbing some of the branches and gently pulling the towards you. If you see a large number of needles fall off, look for another tree. Additionally, the FASNY recommends cutting fresh trees two inches from the base of the trunk before placing in the stand. Trees should then be placed at least three feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights. It’s also important to make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, like a door or a window.
“And turn off the light when not in use,” says Sag Harbor firefighter Dale Stone. Seems simple and obvious enough, but hey, we all have a lot going on and a friendly reminder never hurts.
