Home Owners Should be Fire Safe with Holiday Decorations
Everyone loves decorating their homes around the holidays. But Christmas trees, lights, candles and many other festive decorations can pose a fire risk if not installed with care.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reminding everyone to be safe during the holidays and consider the fire impact of decorations. Its tips for a safe, festive home include:
- Water your live Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is a fire hazard. Trees too close to a heat source cause one in every four winter fires.
- Make sure you are using the right lights. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
- Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
- Choose holiday decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
- Keep lit candles away from decorations and things that can burn. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. Consider using flameless candles: they look very similar and are safer.
- Blow out lit candles and turn off all light strings and decorations when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Make sure your decorations don’t block windows and doors.
Stay safe this holiday season and protect your home and family from preventable accidents. Happy Holidays!
Latest from NAHBNow
Jul 01, 2025
Use NAHB Resources to Protect Workers from Heat and UV ExposureAs NAHB celebrates UV Safety Awareness Month in July, it is important for home builders and general contractors to educate workers about the potential risks associated with UV radiation, and have plans and resources in place to keep them safe on the jobsite.
Jul 01, 2025
Senate Passes Tax Bill With Many Wins for NAHB MembersThe Senate today passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) — sweeping tax and domestic policy legislation that includes several important housing and business provisions that will benefit small businesses, real estate and our members. Most notably, NAHB was able to secure key wins regarding state and local tax deductions for individuals and pass-through businesses.
Latest Economic News
Jul 01, 2025
May Private Residential Construction Spending DipsPrivate residential construction spending fell by 0.5% in May, marking the fifth straight month of decreases. This drop was primarily driven by reduced spending on single-family construction. Compared to a year ago, total spending was down 6.7%, as the housing sector continues to navigate the economic uncertainty stemming from ongoing tariff concerns and elevated mortgage rates.
Jul 01, 2025
Flat Job Openings for ConstructionThe count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry held steady amid a slowdown for housing, per the May Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Jun 30, 2025
2024 New Single-Family Starts by Census DivisionDespite persistently high mortgage rates, elevated financing costs for builders, and a shortage of buildable lots, single-family starts rebounded in 2024, following two straight years of declines.