NFPA warns home fires risk rises as Christmas trees stay up into January
Iain Hoey
Share this content
January spike cited in home fires
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has urged US households to remove Christmas trees promptly after the holiday season, citing data showing that 35% of Christmas tree home fires happen in January.
The organisation said the risk increases the longer a tree remains indoors because it dries out and becomes more flammable over time.
Lorraine Carli, Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy at the National Fire Protection Association, said: “As much as we all enjoy the look and feel of Christmas trees in our homes, they’re large combustible items that have the potential to result in serious fires.
“The longer they’re in the home, the more of a risk they present.”
Why Christmas tree fires can be severe
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) said home fires involving Christmas trees are relatively uncommon but are more likely to be serious when they occur.
The organisation linked that severity to how quickly a dried-out tree can burn compared with a well-watered tree.
Carli said: “Fires that begin with Christmas trees represent a very small but notable part of the U.S. fire problem, considering that they are generally in use for a short time each year,”
Five-year averages and property losses
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) said that between 2020 and 2024 there was an estimated annual average of 143 home structure fires that began with Christmas trees.
The organisation said those fires resulted in seven civilian deaths and 13 civilian injuries.
The NFPA put direct property damage from these incidents at $15 million per year on average across the same period.
Disposal and packing guidance for decorations
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) advised using local community recycling programmes to dispose of Christmas trees where available.
The organisation said trees should not be kept in a garage or left outside.
The NFPA said people should unplug electrical decorations by gripping the plug, because pulling the cord can damage the wire and insulation.
The organisation advised inspecting light strings as they are packed away and discarding any sets with loose connections, broken sockets or cracked or bare wires.
The NFPA said sets of lights can be wrapped and stored in individual plastic bags or around cardboard.
The organisation advised storing electrical decorations in a dry place away from children and pets where they will not be damaged by water or dampness.