Fire on the WebFire Safety for the HolidaysThe National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there is an estimated annual average of 210 home structure fires that begin with Christmas trees. Based on data from 2002 through 2005, these fires caused an average of 24 civilian deaths, 27 civilian injuries, and $13.3 million in direct property damage per year [1]. The NFPA analysis also shows that although the number of Christmas tree fires is low, these fires represent a higher level of hazard. On average, 1 of every 9 Christmas tree fires resulted in a fatality compared to an average of one death per 75 non-confined home structure fires overall. Further, 49 % of Christmas tree fires spread beyond the room of origin. The fires that spread beyond the room of origin caused 94 % of the associated fatalities [1]. The percentage of trees involved in structure fires represent 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 [2]. The moisture content of each tree can play a dominant role in determining the fire hazard each tree represents. Properly maintaining a cut Christmas tree is important to retaining a high moisture content in the needles of the tree to limit accidental ignition and prevent rapid flame spread. A tree which has dry needles can readily ignite with a flaming source and generate heat release rates that are capable of causing flashover in residential scale rooms. |
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| Christmas Tree Fire
Video Presentation
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Tree Fire Video Clip (QT, 2.3 MB) |
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| This video demonstrates the how quickly the fire can develop when a DRY tree is exposed to an open flame. | |||
| Wet trees tell a different story. For comparative purposes, the NIST researchers selected a green Scotch pine, had it cut in their presence, had an additional two inches cut from the trunk's bottom, and placed the tree in a stand with at least a 7.6 liter water capacity. The researchers maintained the Scotch pine's water on a daily basis. A single match could not ignite the tree. A second attempt in which an electric current ignited an entire matchbook failed to fire the tree. Finally they applied an open flame to the tree using a propane torch. The branches ignited briefly, but self-extinguished when the researchers removed the torch from the branches. Trees that have been watered properly, and maintain pliable, green needles are harder to ignite than dry trees with needles that break easily when bent and fall from the tree when the branches are shaken. | |||
| Dry Tree vs. High
Moisture Tree Fire |
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| Comparison of dry tree and properly maintained (high moisture) tree fires (WMV, 8.6 MB) *** (Text Transcript) | |||
| This video shows the ignition propensity of a properly maintained tree compared to that of a dry Fraser fir tree. | |||
| Dry Tree
Fire without a Sprinkler System
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Dry tree fire in non-sprinklered room (camera view-couch) (WMV,
11.8 MB) (Text Transcript)
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| Dry tree fire in non-sprinklered room (camera view-outside room) (WMV, 11.6 MB) | |||
| These videos show the effect of a dry tree on a non-sprinklered furnished room. | |||
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Dry Tree Fire with a Sprinkler System
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| Dry tree fire in sprinklered room (camera view-couch) (WMV, 26.4 MB) (Text Transcript) | |||
| This video demonstrates the impact of a single residential sprinkler on a dry tree in a furnished room. | |||
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For Holiday Fire Safety tips, please refer to the United States Fire
Administration and the Maryland State Fire Marshal Information on the heat release rate of Scotch Pine Trees can be found at Information on the heat release rate of Fraser Fir trees and the impact
of a residential sprinkler on the heat release rate can found at |
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References:
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Date created: August 24, 2010 | Last updated: January 23, 2011 Contact: Webmaster