The Christmas holiday is meant to be a joyous time with family and friends. A house fire due to the celebratory decorations is the last thing you need, but it is a harsh and realistic possibility. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that holiday lights and decorative lighting with line voltage were involved in an average of 150 home structure fires per year.[1] This can include Christmas lights on the house, on a tree, on a garland or for decorative lighting. There was an average of nine deaths per year due to these fires.
Electrical problems were factors in almost two-thirds of the reported fires.[2] Although certain electrical problems are usually unavoidable, there are certain things that consumers can do to lower their odds. The U.S. Fire Administration, NFPA, and Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) teamed up to provide tips to ensure you do not overload the electrical system of your home, causing a fire. In short, you should only use three strands of lights per extension cord. You should make sure that any outdoor lights are plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). For a full list of ways to avoid such fires and electrical overloads, click here.
When it comes to reducing fires, one of the easiest things to do is to remember to turn the lights off on the Christmas tree when you leave the house or go to bed. Overheating can occur due to corrosion within the base or ballast. It could also result from wearing out of the insulation on a component of the strand of lights.[3] The dry needles of the tree become an accelerant for fires as well, so keeping the tree watered is important.
Like with all products, there is a danger of a manufacturing or design defect. It is always a good idea to check strands as you unbox them after purchase for any exposed wiring. Exposed wiring can ignite the tree, siding, posts, or other material that it is placed on or around it. Make sure that there is a label on the lights giving wattage needed and intended use. There are websites designed to allow consumers to check for product recalls and warnings. Check your products here.
Clark Griswold, a character in a popular movie, was made famous for his quest for the brightest house in the neighborhood. His Christmas was ruined by disaster after disaster. Don’t be like Clark. Make sure that you check your string lights, electrical circuits, extension cords, and tree specifications and warnings. All of these things could possibly prevent a fire that could ruin your Christmas, your home, and possibly end the life of a loved one.
Written by:
Lyndsey Mott
Approved by Francisco Guerra, IV
Watts Guerra LLP
4 Dominion Drive, Bldg 3, Suite 100
San Antonio, TX 78257
Phone (210) 447-0500
© Watts Guerra LLP 2015
[1] John Hall, NFPA’s Home Christmas Tree and Holiday Light Fires, http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fire-causes/holiday/christmas-tree-and-holiday-lights, November 2013.
[2] John Hall, NFPA’s Home Christmas Tree and Holiday Light Fires: Home Fires Involving Holiday or Other Decorative Lights Fact Sheet, http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/images/research-and-reports/report-graphics/holidayfires.jpg?as=1&iar=1&la=en, November 2013.
[3] Clara Piccarillo, PhD, Why Christmas Lights Can Get Hot: Electrical Safety During Holidays, http://www.decodedscience.com/christmas-lights-can-get-hot-electrical-safety-holidays/39861/2, December 2013.
