Most people don't realize how dangerous Christmas trees can be if they aren't properly watered and kept away from heat sources. Norma O'Neal of Chattanooga, TN learned this lesson the hard way when her Christmas tree burst into flames while she was at work and destroyed her living room. Several hours later, while trying to regroup herself at a local hotel, she learned that the fire had rekindled inside of the walls of her living room and destroyed the upper floor of her home, too.
Experts say that Christmas tree fires are the most deadly. A recent study by the National Fire Prevention Association found that 1 in 18 Christmas tree fires between 2008 and 2009 resulted in a death. However, Christmas tree fires are also completely preventable by taking a few simple steps.
First, experts say the best way to prevent a Christmas tree fire is to keep the tree well-watered. A tree that is properly watered is almost impossible to light on fire. Additionally, make sure that your tree lights are off when you leave the house or go to bed; replace worn out bulbs on the tree lights; and get rid of trees that are dry, especially if the tree is dropping a lot of needles on the floor. Luckily, the number of house fires caused by Christmas trees has dropped in the past 30 years because of better education, safer lights, less flammable artificial trees, and the greater use of fire alarms.
Check out the video below for a demonstration by the National Fire Prevention Association on how quickly an unwatered tree will burn compared to a regularly watered tree:
recently named in the 2009 edition of Best Lawyer's In America, David Mittleman has been representing seriously injured people since 1985. A partner with Church Wyble PC—a division of Grewal Law PLLC—Mr. Mittleman and his partners focus on medical malpractice, wrongful death, car accidents, slip and falls, nursing home injury, pharmacy/pharmacist negligence and disability claims.
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