Christmas Tree Burn Demonstration - Dec. 6 @ 11 a.m. in Freehold

Colorful decorations, twinkling lights, scented candles and of course Christmas trees help make the holiday season festive, but these same items can also increase the risk of home fires.

Keeping families safe and preventing home fires is the goal of the annual Christmas Tree and Fire Sprinkler Burn Demonstration that will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 6 at the Monmouth County Fire Academy in Freehold, N.J. The event is sponsored by former Assemblyman John Wisniewski in conjunction with the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board(NJFSAB) and Sprinkler Fitters Local 696.

“The holiday season should be a time of joy but, each year, preventable fires caused by Christmas trees and holiday decorations bring tragedy to families all across the country,” said Wisniewski, the former chairman of the N.J. Fire Safety Commission. “The burn demonstration is a great way to show how dangerously fast fires can spread, the effectiveness of fire sprinkler systems to control the blaze, and to educate families about steps they can take to reduce the risk of fires at home.”

The burn features the Super Side-by-Side Burn Trailer equipped with three rooms, each outfitted with similar furniture, a Christmas tree and holiday decorations. All rooms have smoke alarms, but only one of rooms has been equipped with a fire sprinkler system. The middle room includes an adjoining door on each side that can be left open or closed. A small fire is lit in the two outside rooms allowing the audience to see how quickly Christmas trees can catch fire a ignite other items in the room. The room without the sprinkler is often destroyed in seconds, while the flames are quickly suppressed in the room with the fire sprinkler. The doors to the middle room are kept closed to illustrate how important the “Close Before You Doze” initiative is to slow the spread of smoke and fire by closing bedroom doors at night. The demonstration will also feature fire safety tips and educational information about protecting your home and family from fire during the holidays and year-round.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), each year firefighters respond to an average of 170 home fires that are reportedly caused by Christmas trees, and some 800 fires that start from holiday decorations (not including trees).

“The winter months are the leading time of year for home fires which are typically sparked by cooking, candles, holiday decorations and home heating sources,” explained David Kurasz, Executive Director of NJFSAB. “One of every 45 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death. Even one death is too many, especially when a little prior planning and increased awareness can help prevent these fires from occurring.”

Here are some simple tips families can use to help prevent home fires this holiday season.

• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
• Keep the tree hydrated and add water daily. Tip: Use of ice cubes, they melt and are easier to place into the tree stand and help avoid spilling water.
• Keep the tree, and decorations, at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Use lights appropriately: some are only for indoor or outdoor use, and check that they have been laboratory tested (such as UL).
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulbs, and check manufacturer’s guidelines for the number of strands to connect.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights to reduce cord damage.
• Do not overload electrical outlets.
• Choose flame retardant decorations.
• Avoid using lit candles on trees and near curtains and other flammable materials, or in the presence of small children (opt for safer battery-operated candles).
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights and blow out candles before leaving home or going to bed.
• When cooking, remove flammable items from cooking areas and do not leave kitchen unattended.
• Make sure the tree and other decorations are not blocking an exit.
• Check to make sure your smoke alarms are in working order.

According to Kurasz, families that have fire sprinklers installed in their homes definitely have an advantage when it comes to fire protection. “Fire sprinklers can reduce the can reduce the risk of dying in a fire by 80 percent, and reduce property loss by 70 percent. Sprinklers help contain the spread of the fire and give people more time to safely escape when fire breaks out.” He added, “Many single and dual family homes in New Jersey don’t have sprinklers, but that can be rectified easily for less than the cost per square foot of a granite counter top.”

“Each year at the holiday season, there are always news stories of families whose holidays turned into tragedy because of fire,” added Wisniewski. “Don’t let your family suffer such a fate. Take these precautions to help protect you and your family. My wish for everyone is for a festive and safe holiday season.”

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The mission of the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NJFSAB) is to save lives and protect property by educating the public about fire safety, demonstrating the benefits and effectiveness of fire sprinklers in suppressing and reducing the impact of fires, and supporting fire-safe building codes and legislation. NJFSAB is a cooperative partnership advocating installation and proper care of fire sprinkler systems. Headquartered in Hamilton, N.J., the Board is comprised of unionized workers (Sprinkler Fitters Local 696), local leaders, code committee members, contractors and businesses who represent fire sprinkler construction, production, distribution and installation.