What: The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) will demonstrate how to choose, care for and dispose of natural-cut Christmas trees. They are permitted in one- and two-family homes in Philadelphia.

New this year, with support from our partners from the National Fire Sprinkler Association, PFD members will hold a side-by-side burn demo to show just how quickly fire can spread.

Who:

Jeffrey Thompson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Fire Department
Gene Janda, Fire & Emergency Services Chief, UPenn
Keith Warren, Deputy Commissioner, Streets Department
Representatives from the National Fire Sprinkler Association
Members of the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Fire Prevention and Code Division

When: TOMORROW, Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 11:00 a.m.

Where: Philadelphia Fire Academy, 5200 Pennypack St., Philadelphia, PA, 19136

Visuals:

PFD members will show how to properly cut and display your Christmas tree, how to keep it watered, and best practices for care.
A side-by-side burn demonstration to show how quick fire spreads.
Interviews with PFD officials available.

Data & resources:

Holiday Fire Safety from the National Fire Protection Association

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 home Christmas tree fires.
Nearly one in four Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs. Twelve percent were started by candles.
Roughly two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.
Candle fires peak in December and January with twelve percent of candle fires occurring in December and ten percent of candle fires occurring in January.

Year round, one-third of home decoration fires were started by candles. This jumped to half in December when candles started fifty percent of such fires. Cooking started one-fifth of decoration

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