NIST Features Fire Safety for the Holidays

Fire researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology warn that improper care of a cut Christmas tree can lead to catastrophic fires. Retaining high moisture content in the tree’s needles is crucial to preventing accidental ignition and rapid flame spread, researchers say. The Institute has posted cautionary videos with background information and a side-by-side comparison showing what happens to a properly maintained tree and a dry tree after they are exposed to a source of ignition. The videos show that flames can engulf a dry tree within 15 seconds and burn away all the needles after 90 seconds. A dry tree can readily ignite with a flaming source and generate heat release rates that are capable of causing flashover in residential scale rooms, researchers add.