Holiday Fire Safety Tips

Festive celebrations, flickering lights and winter greens are hallmarks of the holiday season, but they also present fire risks that can quickly turn this festive time of year into a devastating one. 

Winter Holiday Fire Facts

• U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 832 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of 3 civilian fire deaths, 28 civilian fire injuries and $17 million in direct property damage.
• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in more than two in five (43%) home Christmas tree fires.
• Nearly one in four (24%) Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs. Twelve percent were started by candles.
• Roughly two of every five (42%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room. 
• Candle fires peak in December and January with 12 percent of candle firesin occurring in December and 10 percent of candle fires occurring in January.
• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.
• Year round, one-third (33%) of home decoration fires were started by candles. This jumped to half in December when candles started 50% of such fires. Cooking started one-fifth (20%) of decoration fires.

Source: NFPA

Christmas Tree & Decoration Fires

Carefully decorating your home can help make your holidays safer. Between 2019-2023, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 145 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires were responsible for an estimated 7 civilian deaths, 13 civilian injuries, and $15M in property damage during that time period.

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 832 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees.

 Watch this video to see how a Christmas Tree Fire Turns Devastating Within Seconds.

Source:NFPA

Holiday Cooking

In 2023, the three leading dates for home structure fires caused by cooking were: Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. That's why it's important to know what you can do to help keep your friends and family safe while entertaining for the holidays.

Source: NFPA

20th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive

The Bucket Brigade is a friendly competition among local fire departments to see which fire department can host the largest blood drive. On Friday, January 16 you can support Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District by donating blood at the Geyserville Fire Station from 12:45 to 5:45 pm. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. All donors receive a Bucket Brigade T-shirt as a thank you. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 877-258-4825 or visit the Appintment Link.

Helicopter Training

On November 26 our firefighters joined CAL Fire for helicopter training at Lake Sonoma. CAL Fire demonstrated patient hoisting and relocation, simulating care for a hurt firefighter on an incident. Our firefighters had the opportunity to learn about the gear the helicopter carries and the capabilities and limitations of its crew and equipment.