Christmas Trees

• Between 2009-2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 210 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 7 deaths, 19 injuries, and $17.5 million in direct property damage annually.

• On average, one of every 31 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 144 total reported home fires.

• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 38% of home Christmas tree fires.

• Twenty-two percent of Christmas tree fires were intentional.

• Two of every five (39%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room, family room, or den.

Source: NFPA's "Home Structure Fires Involving Christmas Trees" report, November 2015

Holiday Decorations

• U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 860 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees, in 2009-2013. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 41 civilian fire injuries and $13.4 million in direct property damage.

• Ten percent of decoration fires were intentional.

• The decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle or equipment in nearly half (45%) of the fires.

• One-fifth (20%) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen. One out of six (17%) started in the living room, family room or den.

• One-fifth (20%) of the home decoration fires occurred in December.
Source: NFPA's "Home Structure Fires Involving Decorations" report, November 2015.

Candles

• Candles started 38% of home decoration structure fires.

• Half (51%) of the December home decoration fires were started by candles, compared to one-third (35%) in January to November.

• The top three days for home candle fires were Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Christmas Eve.

Source: NFPA's "Home Structure Fires Involving Decorations" report, November 2015.

Holiday Cooking

• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

• Cooking equipment was involved in 18% of home decoration fires. This can happen when a decoration is left on or too close to a stove or other cooking equipment.

Source: NFPA's "Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment" report, November 2015.

Fireworks

• Ten percent of fireworks fires occur during the period from December 30 through January 3, with the peak on New Year's Day.

Source: NFPA's "Fireworks" report, June