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Enjoy the Holiday Lights While Minimizing the Risk of a Home Fire

The holidays are a time for relaxing with family, eating delicious food, and enjoying the beautiful lights on the trees and our homes. In some homes, though, those beautiful lights can turn deadly. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that each year, approximately 160 Christmas trees catch on fire, leading to deaths, injuries and property damage[1]. The majority of these fires are caused by electrical distribution and lighting equipment, lamps, bulbs or lighting, wiring and related equipment, or cords or plugs[2].

Following are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of having a Christmas tree fire in your home:

• Holiday lights are designed to either be used indoors or outdoors, but not both. Outdoor lights use more energy and glow brighter and hotter. Read the package instructions to make sure you are using outdoor lights outside and indoor lights inside. While you are examining the package, check that the lights have been tested for safety by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another nationally-recognized organization.

• Plug outdoor lights into a GFCI-protected outlet that is located outside your home.

• Before you hang any lights, carefully inspect them, especially if they are older, to ensure that they are in good condition, with no fraying cords or broken lights. If you are unsure if they are ok to use, replace them with a fresh set.

• Respect the manufacturer’s instructions about the number of strings of lights that you can safely connect together. Creating a large daisy-chain of lights increases the likelihood of an electrical fire.

• Never use real candles to decorate a tree or near any flammable objects. Replace them with battery-operated flameless candles for a beautiful holiday look with a lower fire risk. Additionally, all the tree decorations should be made from non-flammable materials.

• Turn off your lights each night or set a timer to do so. This will not only reduce your fire risk, but your electricity bill as well.

• Regularly water your tree to keep it well-hydrated. A dry tree is more likely to catch on fire than a hydrated one. Also, once the holiday ends, promptly remove your tree from the house.

We hope you have beautiful and safe holiday season. If you or a loved one is the unfortunate victim of a faulty product, whether it is Christmas tree lights, or anything else, contact ECanter Lawyers right away for a free no-obligation case evaluation.

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[1] NFPA. Christmas tree fires report | NFPA. Accessed November 6, 2025.

[2] NFPA. Christmas tree fires report | NFPA. Accessed November 6, 2025.