As holiday scenes come to life in downtown shop windows and in neighborhoods,the Idaho Falls Fire Department and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reminds citizens of the potential fire risks and offers the following holiday safety tips:
Picking the Tree
-Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
Placing the Tree
-Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk.
-Make sure the tree is at least three feet (3ft) away from any heat source, such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
-Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
-Water trees daily. This is important to retain high moisture content in the needles of the trees and to limit accidental ignition and prevent rapid flame spread. Dry needles can readily ignite with a flaming source and generate heat release rates that are capable of causing flashover – an almost simultaneous ignition of exposed combustible material.
Watered Tree vs. Dry Tree
Lighting the Tree
-Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use.
-Replace string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
-Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
-Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
After Christmas
-Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.
-Dispose of the tree after Christmas. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home.
City Christmas Tree Disposal Services
The city’s Sanitation Division will assist residents with post-holiday cleanup efforts by offering Christmas tree disposal services, located in various areas throughout city limits.
Residents have until Jan. 30 to dispose of trees in the designated locations.
The locations will be announced through city communications, including the city’s website in late December.
Statistics
-According to the NFPA, between 2009 and 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 210 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year.
-U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 860 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees.
-Nearly 40 percent of home fires that begin with Christmas trees occur in January. Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur they are much more likely to be serious.
-On average, 1in every 9 Christmas tree fires resulted in a fatality compared to an average of 1 death per 75 non-confined home structure fires overall.
-49 percent of Christmas tree fires spread beyond the room of origin.
-Fires that spread beyond the room of origin caused 94 percent of the associated fatalities.
-The percentage of trees involved in structure fires presents an extremely small portion of the total number of natural Christmas trees sold, which is estimated at 30 million trees in the United States each year.
Additional Information
9 Ways You’re a Holiday Decorating Disaster
Christmas tree fires
Contact: Kerry Hammon, Public Information Officer
(208) 612-8122
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