Press Release

Release Date: December 04, 2003

To Reduce Holiday Fires, The U.S. Fire Administration Offers Tips on Using Christmas Trees, Candles and Decorations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) urge the nation's families to take steps to make their holidays "fire safe" this year. Statistics show that the incidence of house fires increases during the winter holiday season - fueled in part by holiday decorations, candles and Christmas trees.

"We see that fires caused by candles increase fourfold during the holidays, and each year some 200 house fires occur where Christmas trees are the initial source of ignition," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "Preventing these fires helps keep the holiday season joyful for this nation's families."

All told, house fires during the winter holiday season kill about 500 and injure about 2,000 people, and cause more than $500 million in damage.

But, R. David Paulison, head of the USFA, which is part of FEMA, said Americans don't have to give up their holiday decorations in the interest of safety. There are some easy, commonsense things people can do to reduce their risk of a fire, he said. The USFA recommends:

Selecting a fresh Christmas tree that is kept in water at all times. Needles on fresh trees should be green and should not fall off easily. Don't put your tree up too early or leave it up longer than two weeks. Dried out Christmas trees can ignite easily and boost a fire by spreading it rapidly to nearby combustible materials!
Placing your Christmas tree in a safe place, away from heat sources such as a fireplace or heat vent.
Maintaining your holiday lights. Inspect your lights before you use them to ensure they don't have frayed wires, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets or excessive wear. Only use lighting that is listed by an approved testing laboratory and don't leave the lights on when you're not home.
Avoiding overloading electrical outlets. Don't link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe. Periodically check the wires. They should not be warm to the touch.
Using only nonflammable decorations that are placed away from heat vents and if you're using an artificial tree, make sure that it's flame retardant.
Avoiding using candles. If you do use candles, ensure they are in a stable holder and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Do not leave lit candles unattended, never put candles on a Christmas tree and never leave the house with candles burning.

"It's also important to know that fires caused by children increase during the holiday season. According to our National Fire Incident Reporting System, children will cause close to 60 house fires a day in mid-December, with another sharp increase on New Year's Day," said Paulison. "Parents should take precautions to prevent such tragedies."

More information is available on the FEMA Web site at www.fema.gov and on the USFA Web site at www.usfa.fema.gov. A video clip of a Christmas tree catching fire, courtesy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, can be viewed at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/public/factsheets/treefir.shtm

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Updated: June 23, 2004 01:40 PM

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