December is Leading Month for Home Fires, Ulster County Fire Coordinator Shares Safety Tips

Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and festive meals are all iconic symbols of the holiday season, but they also pose potential fire risks that contribute to a rise in home fires across the U.S. each December. The National Fire Protection Association reports that in 2022, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked as the second- and third-highest days for home cooking fires, respectively.

Michael B. Gaffney is the Deputy Director and Fire Coordinator for Ulster County Department of Emergency Services and he appeared on Radio Chatskill with tips on how to minimize the likelihood of cooking, candle, Christmas tree, and decoration fires.

Candles and Lighting
Decorating homes with electrical lighting and candles also contributes to a higher fire risk during the holiday season. The NFPA reports between 2018 and 2022, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual average of 835 home structure fires that began with decorations (excluding Christmas trees). Year-round, approximately one-third (32%) of home decoration fires were started by candles; in December, that number jumped to almost half (46%).

Christmas Trees
Christmas tree fires don’t happen very often, but when they do, they tend to be more serious. According to the NFPA, an annual average of 155 home Christmas tree fires resulted in four civilian deaths, seven civilian injuries, and $15 million in direct property damage, with electrical distribution or lighting equipment involved in more than two in five home Christmas tree fires.

Lithium-Ion Batteries
Many people will be buying and gifting electronic devices that contain lithium-ion batteries. As the use of these devices has increased in recent years, so too has the number of related fires.

There are steps you can do to better protect your home from a fire during the holidays. You can find the full list of safety tips below:

• Cook with caution.
• Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
• Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycling is always the best option. Take the batteries to a battery recycling location or contact your local waste department for disposal instructions.
• Have device repairs performed only by a qualified professional.
• Make sure your Christmas tree is at least three feet away from any heat sources.
• Only use devices, batteries and charging equipment that is listed under nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.
• Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color.
• Use charging equipment that is only compatible with your device. To be safe, use only the charging equipment that is supplied with your device.
• When your burning candles, use candle holders that are sturdy and won't tip over easily.