Detroit officials provide tips to prevent fires due to holiday decorations

(CBS DETROIT) – Christmas is less than a month away, and families are in the process of decorating their homes and trees for the holiday. But the Detroit Fire Department says there are things to keep in mind with those decorations.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, one-third of home decoration fires are started by a candle, and more than two out of every five decoration fires occur because the decor is too close to a heat source. Additionally, the association says almost one-third of Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems.
According to the association, between 2018 and 2022, fire departments in the U.S. responded to an average of 155 home fires caused by a Christmas tree and an average of 835 home fires caused by other holiday decorations.
On Tuesday, the Detroit Fire Department offered tips on how to avoid house fires started by holiday decorations and conducted a demonstration showing how quickly a Christmas tree can catch on fire.
You can watch the demonstration in the video player above. Officials said the tree was engulfed in flames in less than 15 seconds.
“It only takes a few breaths in a room filled with smoke for a person to become unconscious, which usually results in a fatality,” Capt. Edward Davis said in a news release. “We want to make sure everyone who brings a live tree into their home takes the proper precautions to ensure their holiday doesn’t end up in disaster.”