You're Asking for Trouble if You Don't Take Care of Your Live Christmas Tree

Ever seen a Christmas tree go up in flames and take an entire room with it in less than a minute? It's a thing to behold – as the video accompanying this story shows – and not in a good way.

Though there may not be a high number of tree fires reported each year, the potential remains high – especially if someone's had a tree since Thanksgiving and hasn't been giving it enough water, fire inspector Mary Ludemann said.

Once you see those needles dropping, that tree is dry and you've got a problem, she said.

"We are always telling people, if your live tree gets dry, remove it from the house," Ludemann said.

Every year an average of 260 fires are attributed to Christmas trees, resulting in an average of 14 deaths, 26 injuries and $13.8 million in direct property damage annually, according to statistics compiled between 2003 and '08 by the National Fire Protection Association.

Common mistakes often lead to fire, especially if the tree starts getting dry, such as placing the tree too close to a heat vent, space heater or fireplace or plugging too many strands of lights together, Ludemann said. Manufacturers provide a maximum limit for how many strands can be used together, but it's easy to forget once the packaging gets thrown away.

If the wires are warm to the touch, there's something wrong, Ludemann said.

That's why the new LED lights are growing in popularity, she said. While they're more expensive than traditional bulbs, they also emit less heat and you can safely connect more strands together, she said.

Artificial trees are safer than live because they are treated with a flame retardant, but that can be diminished after years of use, Ludemann said. And plastic trees can still go up in flames, albeit not as quickly as a live tree, she said.

"We also recommend that if nobody's home, the (indoor) lights not be left on," Ludemann said. "If something goes wrong, you're not there to see it happen (and potentially stop or limit the damage)."

One other smart rule of thumb is to make sure the tree doesn't block an exit, she said. If it catches fire, your ability to escape will be hindered if one of the routes is blocked by a tree that's in flames, she said.

While trees pose a danger, Ludemann added that it's candles that actually cause more fires.

An estimated 14,800 home fires started by candles were reported to local fire departments between 2003 and '06, according to the National Fire Protection Association. They resulted in an estimated 160 civilian deaths, 1,340 civilian injuries and an estimated direct property loss of $471 million, association statistics show.

To prevent, a candle fire requires following some fairly common-sense rules, Ludemann said. Keep lit candles away from items that can catch fire, such as curtains and decorations, she said. Don't leave candles unattended or in a place where they can be knocked over by children or pets, she said.

Here are some additional tips from Jeff Hawthorne, director of fire prevention for the :

• Check holiday lights each year for wires that are worn out or coming apart, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and a lot of bends or twists in the wire.
• Never overload outlets or extension cords. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet.
• One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a "Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm." A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.
• Prepare an escape plan and practice it often. Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two escape routes from their bedrooms.