STILLWATER, Okla. – We have all heard the warnings and seen the clips of Christmas trees bursting into flames and ruining someone’s holiday season.
Unfortunately, the difference between fact and fiction regarding Christmas trees is not well defined.
“Christmas trees are often made the culprit for causing fires during the holiday season,” said Craig McKinley, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension forestry expert. “A Christmas tree cannot cause a fire any more than your sofa, your couch, or your waste basket.”
Oftentimes in the video clip warnings, a “live” tree has been set aside and dried for long time before being ignited.
“The media often let the tree lay out in the hot sun for two months before they try to torch it,” said Chuck Tauer, retired OSU forest genetics professor and Christmas tree grower. “The truth of the matter is that if you take a fresh-cut Virginia pine and you stick it in a stand with water, you’ll have a hard time getting that thing to burn.”
McKinley recalled a public service announcement on the news in another state several years back in which the news reporter tried to light a Fraser fir with a match. When the tree wouldn’t go up in flames, a small torch was used.
“The reporter couldn’t get the tree lit. You could then see they cut the film, and ‘wooompf,’ they had a tree fire,” McKinley said. “The reporter then said, ‘Remember, a small spark such as this could destroy your Christmas.’”
McKinley couldn’t believe his eyes and wanted to clear Christmas trees of any wrongdoing.
“It’s real easy for the fire marshal to go burn one and show it on TV,” McKinley said. “Obviously, we suggest safety first at all times, but often, the potential danger of Christmas trees is exaggerated.”
A very small percentage of the time the tree was the first item ignited, according to McKinley. However, when the rare occasion a tree does catch on fire, we will hear about it.
“Christmas time is a time of joy, with lots of presents and good times, so it is a dramatic story when a fire occurs,” McKinley said.
The number of fires involving Christmas trees has gone down in the United States since the use of lit candles on trees has diminished. That tradition continues in parts of Europe, but those trees have much more space between branches to allow for that type of decoration.
“We’ve learned that candles on trees are not a good idea, even if they are used in Europe,” McKinley said. “Trees can be a fuel source, and should be treated as such. But, a number of other items can also be fuel for a fire. Simply stated, trees don’t cause fires and are not inherently dangerous.”
Aside from lit candles in Christmas trees, much concern had been raised in the past about how hot the lights on the trees would get. With new regulations on lights, that is no longer a threat.
“The lights these days stay rather cool,” Tauer said. “That might be why Christmas tree fires are such a concern to people, because tree lights used to become quite hot.”
With that said, McKinley did offer a warning about Christmas trees.
“One of the dangers you are going to have with a Christmas tree is getting gouged in the eye with a pine, fir, or spruce needle,” he said. “So be careful.”
While Christmas trees are safe in the house, if taken care of properly, McKinley advises consumers to be smart and cautious about keeping open flames away from trees, and anything else in the house.
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Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.
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Sean Hubbard
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Stillwater, OK 74078
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