National Fire Protection Association bringing awareness to December home fires

The Red Cross has shared tips on how to protect yourself and home from fires while cooking, but the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is bringing awareness to the additional possible dangers of the holidays: Christmas trees, candles and lighting and other holiday décor.

Homes decorated with electrical lighting and candles contributed to an average of 835 home fires 2018 and 2022. A statement from the NFPA said," Year-round, approximately one-third (32 percent) of home decoration fires were started by candles; in December, that number jumped to almost half (46 percent)."

Christmas tree fires don't happen as often, but they tend to be more serious when they do. An annual average of 155 Christmas tree-related fires resulted in four deaths, seven injuries and $15 million in direct property damage.

Lithium-ion batteries also have the potential to cause fires, and some may not know the proper safe handling of these batteries. The NFPA lists the following tips to stay safe:

• Purchase and use devices, batteries and charging equipment that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab, such as Intertek. 
• Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
• Do not discard lithium-ion batteries in the trash. The NFPA recommends recycling through a designated recycling location, or contacting a local waste department for disposal instructions. 
• Stop use of the device if the battery shows signs of damage such as an unusual color, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling or a change in color. 
• Only have the device repaired by a qualified professional. 

"The commonality between the vast majority of all these fires is that they're largely preventable... By understanding when and where potential risks exist, people can take simple steps to reduce their likelihood, which can go a long way toward ensuring a festive, fire-free holiday season," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Safety.

You can find downloadable informational PDFs on the NFPA website. Additional safety information on lithium-ion batteries can also be found on the NFPA website.