Holiday-related fires blamed for over $300 million in property damage; NFPA urges caution

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges the public to be extra cautious this holiday season to prevent house fires.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are among the leading days of the year for house fires in the United States, a NFPA spokesperson informed.

“December is a leading month for home fires, in large part because many of the activities we engage in during the holiday season reflect leading causes of home fires year-round,” NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy Lorraine Carli said.

“Plus, as colder temperatures impact much of the country, use of heating equipment increases significantly,” Carli continued.

Christmas Trees were one of the main sources of house fires.

An estimated average of 160 house fires involving Christmas trees caused two civilian deaths and $12 million in property damage per year between 2016 and 2020, the spokesperson said.

Of those tree fires, nearly one in five were stated by decorative lights, the spokesperson said.

Candles could also pose a risk.

An estimated average of 7,400 house fires was started by candles, causing an average of 90 civilian deaths and $291 million in property damage per year between 2015 and 2019, the spokesperson said.

In three of every five candle fires, the candle was too close to something that could catch on fire, the spokesperson said.

Cooking was the leading cause of house fires.

Cooking caused a reported 49 percent of house fires and was the second-leading cause of house fire deaths, the spokesperson said.

Unattended cooking was the lead cause of these types of house fires, the spokesperson said.

“By knowing where potential fire hazards exist and taking some basic safety precautions to prevent them, people can enjoy a festive, fire-free holiday season,” said Carli.