Fire on the Web

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Fire Safety for the Holidays

Trees used indoors for the holidays account for approximately 400 fires annually, resulting in 10 deaths, 80 injuries and more than $15 million in property damage.

This video demonstrates the how quickly the fire can develop when a DRY tree is exposed to an open flame. 

SHOW VIDEO:
(AVI file, 2,411 KB)
(MOV file, 2,341 KB)
(RealMedia file, 246 KB) ***

Wet trees tell a different story.  For comparative purposes, the NIST researchers selected a green Scotch pine, had it cut in their presence, had an additional two inches cut from the trunk's bottom, and placed the tree in a stand with at least a 7.6 liter water capacity.  The researchers maintained the Scotch pine's water on a daily basis.  A single match could not ignite the tree.  A second attempt in which an electric current ignited an entire matchbook failed to fire the tree.  Finally they applied an open flame to the tree using a propane torch.  The branches ignited briefly, but self-extinguished when the researchers removed the torch from the branches.  Trees that have been watered properly, and maintain pliable, green needles are harder to ignite than dry trees with needles that break easily when bent and fall from the tree when the branches are shaken.  

This video shows the ignition propensity of a fresh moist tree compared to that of a dry tree.

SHOW VIDEO:
(MPG file, 49, 831 KB) ***
 

For Holiday Fire Safety tips, please refer to
the United States Fire Administration
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/safety/tips/holiday.shtm
and the Maryland State Fire Marshal
http://www.firemarshal.state.md.us

Information on the heat release rate of Scotch Pine Trees can be found at
http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/fire00/PDF/f00147.pdf

 

*** A high resolution video (broadcast quality) can be obtained by contacting Dan Madrzykowski at madrzy@nist.gov.

 

 

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