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Christmas Fire Safety

Candles, Christmas trees, and cooking — Holiday fire hazards

  • The top days for home fires from candles are Christams, New Year's Day, and New Year's Eve. Many fires start in bedrooms.
  • Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires each year.
  • Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires.

Christmas Trees

Natural trees present fire hazards. Such hazards are reduced with artificial trees.

  • Shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters, or matches start tree fires.
  • Well-watered trees reduce fire hazards. A dry and neglected tree can be a problem.
  • A heat source too close to the tree causes one in every four of Christmas tree fires.

Quick Tips

  • Cut natural trees at a 45 degree angle
  • Use only non-flammable decorations
  • Inspect lights for frayed wire or other defects before use
  • Do not leave lights on unattended
  • When the tree becomes dry, discard it immediately.

    Tips to Share

    An infographic promoting fire safety during the holidays, emphasizing keeping Christmas trees away from heat sources.
    An infographic urging fire safety with candles during holidays, advising to keep decorations away from flames and consider flameless candles.
    English infographic about holiday electrical wire safety
    Spanish infographic about holiday electrical wire safety
    Graphic of a hand watering a decorated Christmas tree, with Spanish text on fire safety by FEMA.
    Graphic advising to water Christmas tree daily to prevent fire, by U.S. Fire Administration and FEMA.
    A safety message about disposing of dry Christmas trees to prevent fires, with a man removing a tree from a house.
    A person discarding a Christmas tree, with a safety message about dry trees being a fire hazard.
    An illustration promoting the use of battery-operated flameless candles, which mimic real candles, endorsed by FEMA and US Fire Administration.
    An infographic promoting the use of flameless, battery-operated candles for safety, with text in Spanish.
    An infographic promoting fire safety during the holidays, emphasizing keeping Christmas trees away from heat sources.
    An infographic urging fire safety with candles during holidays, advising to keep decorations away from flames and consider flameless candles.
    English infographic about holiday electrical wire safety
    Spanish infographic about holiday electrical wire safety
    Graphic of a hand watering a decorated Christmas tree, with Spanish text on fire safety by FEMA.
    Graphic advising to water Christmas tree daily to prevent fire, by U.S. Fire Administration and FEMA.
    A safety message about disposing of dry Christmas trees to prevent fires, with a man removing a tree from a house.
    A person discarding a Christmas tree, with a safety message about dry trees being a fire hazard.
    An illustration promoting the use of battery-operated flameless candles, which mimic real candles, endorsed by FEMA and US Fire Administration.
    An infographic promoting the use of flameless, battery-operated candles for safety, with text in Spanish.

    Source for Content: National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Fire Administration.