Injury Prevention: Residential Fires

Did you know that most residential fires occur during the winter months?

This holiday season can be problematic because live Christmas trees can be a fire hazard when not watered properly. Consider this: (Click here for a video to illustrate this situation.)

"The National Institute of Standards and Technology illustrates what happens when fire touches a dry tree. Within three seconds of ignition, the dry Scotch pine is completely ablaze. At five seconds, the fire extends up the tree and black smoke with searing gases streaks across the ceiling. Fresh air near the floor feeds the fire. The sofa, coffee table and the carpet ignite prior to any flame contact. Within 40 seconds "flashover" occurs - that's when an entire room erupts into flames, oxygen is depleted and dense, deadly toxic smoke engulfs the scene.

Wet trees tell a different story. For comparative purposes, the NIST fire safety engineers 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. As NIST fire safety engineers say: REMEMBER, A WET TREE IS A SAFE TREE!"

Here are a few more tips to help you prevent fires and possible injury:

1. Never leave food unattended on a stove.
2. Keep cooking areas free of flammable objects (such as, potholders and towels).
3. Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves when cooking.
4. Never place portable space heaters near flammable materials (such as drapery).
5. Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children. Store them up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
6. If you smoke, never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended. Do not empty smoldering ashes in a trash can, and keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
7. Install smoke alarms on every floor of the home, including the basement, and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.
8. Use long-life smoke alarms with lithium-powered batteries and hush buttons, which allow persons to stop false alarms quickly. If long-life alarms are not available, use regular alarms, and replace the batteries annually.
9. Test all smoke alarms every month to ensure they work properly.
10. If possible, install or retrofit fire sprinklers into home.
11. Keep candles away from children, pets, walkways, trees, and curtains.
12. Never leave fireplaces or candles unattended.
13. Devise a family fire escape plan and practice it every 6 months. In the plan, describe at least two different ways each family member can escape every room, and designate a safe place in front of the home for family members to meet after escaping a fire.