Each year Christmas trees start nearly 250 house fires causing
an average of 16 deaths and $13.1 million in property damage.
Although the number of fires started from Christmas trees is
not extremely high, they are extremely serious. One of every 15
reported fires that began with a tree resulted in deaths.
Photo by Steve Nedrich
Christmas Tree Safety
v Selecting a Tree: Needles on fresh trees should be green and
hard to pull back from the branches and the needle should
not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be
sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the
trunk on the ground—if many needles fall off, the tree has been
cut too long.
v Caring for Your Tree: Do not place your tree close to a heat
source, including fireplaces and heating vents. Do not put your
tree up too early or leave it up longer than two weeks. Keep the
tree stand filled with water.
v Disposing of Your Tree: Never put tree branches or needles
in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When the tree becomes
dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is
by taking it to a recycling center or contacting your city services
to see when they will be picked up from the tree lawn.
Holiday Lights
v Maintain Your Lights: Inspect your holiday lights each
year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in insulation, broken
or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before
putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved
testing laboratory.
Holiday Fire Safety
Demonstration
v Do Not Overload Electrical Circuits: Do not link more
than three light strands, unless directions indicate it is safe.
Connect strings of lights to extension cords before plugging
the cord in the outlet. Be sure to periodically check the wires,
THEY SHOULD NOT BE WARM TO THE TOUCH.
v Do Not Leave Lights On when Away from Home.
Candles
Before
During 2005 an estimated 15,600 home structure fires were
ignited by candles. These fires resulted in an estimated 150 fire
deaths. These numbers are double from 1990.
v Avoid Using Lit Candles. If you do use them, make sure they
are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be
easily knocked down. When the room or area is no longer
being inhabited, extinguish the candles.
v Never Put Lit Candles On or Near a Tree: Do not go near any
tree with lit candles or open flames.
Year-round Fire Safety Tips
v Test Your Smoke Detectors: Test monthly and be sure to
change the batteries twice a year.
v Never Play With Matches: Children should never play with
matches, lighters, or the kitchen stove.
v Make an Escape Plan: Know your way out of your home.
Your plan should include two ways out. This way if a fire
blocks one route you’ll have a plan to get out another route.
Choose a meeting place outside where everyone can meet
in case of a fire. Practice your escape plan.
v Don’t Block Your Pathway Out: Keep rooms neat and
all doors, windows, and hallways clear of toys and other
obstructions. If you have a fire in your home you don’t want to
block your way out and firefighters will have a much easier
time making a rescue if your hallways, windows, and doors
are not blocked.
v Crawl Your Way Out: If you find yourself in a room that’s
filled with smoke, don’t stand up and try to walk out of the
room, get low or even crawl your way out if necessary. The
smoke is toxic and will kill in a matter of seconds.
v Call 911: Once you’re out of the house, call 911. Don’t stop to
make the call inside the home, get out first then call!
v Stay Out: Don’t ever go back into a building that’s on fire. If
someone is still inside tell the firefighters where you think the
person or pet may be in the home.
After
In less than 2 minutes fire engulfed the Christmas
tree in the top photograph and ravaged this living
room decorated for the holidays.
“
If your clothes are on fire
Stop, Drop and Roll!
Never run,
get on the ground and roll.
This will put out the fire.
”
These Fire Safety Tips were provided by
the Western Reserve Fire Museum
and Education Center and its partners:
the Cuyahoga County Fire Chiefs
Association and
the Cleveland Division of Fire
310 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
www.wrfmc.com
216.664.6312