Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Why You Should Water Your Christmas Tree
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), between 2014 and 2018 an average of 160 home fires each year started with a Christmas tree. In the videos below, NIST fire researchers demonstrate what could happen if a fire starts in a watered Christmas tree vs. a dry Christmas tree. For Christmas tree safety tips, visit the NFPA website.
Read the publication, "Fire Hazards of Dry Versus Watered Christmas Trees," that resulted from these burns.
BEHIND THE SCENES: THE MAKING OF A NIST HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Every holiday season, hundreds of residential fires start with a Christmas tree.
Above, you saw the NIST video that illustrates the dramatic difference between a fire started in a well-watered tree versus in a thirsty, neglected tree.
Here, you can get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the video shoot.