Christmas Trees Should Be Festive, Not Deadly: Fire Safety Video

ILLINOIS — Norse priests once decorated sacred trees to honor their gods, adorning them with apples for Odin, candles for Balder. That practice, later adapted by St. Boniface and early Christians as they converted the Germanic tribes to their new religion, was passed down to German protestants during the Renaissance. From there, it spread to the European nobility, taking off in Britain under Queen Victoria, whose husband, Prince Albert, was German. And, of course, from Britain, it spread around the world, including to America.

What did all of those groups have to worry about? Fire.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas trees and other holiday decorations greatly increase the risk of fire during the holiday season. Christmas trees alone account for more than 160 fires and $10 million in damage to U.S. households every year.

About two-fifths of home decoration fires started because decorations were placed too close to a heat source, the group said, and about one-third involved candles.

A new Christmas tree fire safety video from the Palatine Fire Department and the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board hopes to make these holidays safer. The shares fire safety tips and compares fires in homes with and without sprinklers and with live vs. artificial trees.

Officials said homes without sprinklers flashed over in flame in about three minutes, reaching over 1500 degrees, while in homes protected by sprinklers, the fire was extinguished in about 20 seconds.

"Christmas trees are a staple in many homes throughout the holiday season. We wanted to provide a visual to remind people to follow simple safety tips to prevent fires in their homes," said sprinkler advisory board executive director Erik Hoffer in a statement. "We do not want to see anyone without a house or home, especially during the holidays, due to a preventable fire."

More than 115 Illinois communities and fire districts require newly constructed homes to have sprinklers, life-saving technology pagan revelers didn't have.

Hoffer said sprinklers are the only technology that can actively control and fire, giving families time to escape their burning homes.

"With home fire sprinklers, working smoke alarms, and
regularly practiced fire escape plans, families can have peace of mind and comfortably enjoy the
holiday season," he said.

Besides having a sprinkler, for a safer holiday, fire officials say to:

• Pick a live tree with fresh, green needles and water them daily
• Make sure trees are at least 3 feet from any heat source and not blocking exits
• Use lights that are listed by a qualified testing lab such as UL
• Do not use light strands with worn or broken cords or loose bulbs
• Always turn tree lights off when leaving home or going to bed