University of Maryland Annual Christmas Tree Fire Safety Demonstration

Event hosted by Fire Protection Engineering @ Maryland shows the effects of tree neglect.

MEDIA ADVISORY  December 13, 2021

CONTACT:
Katie Holland
301-405-0379
khollan3@umd.edu

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) at the University of Maryland (UMD) A. James Clark School of Engineering will hold its Annual Christmas Tree Fire Safety Demonstration on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 9:00 A.M.  

WHY: According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics, between 2014 and 2018, fire departments in the United States responded to an average of 160 home structure fires each year that began with Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of two civilian deaths, 14 civilian injuries, and $10.3 million in direct property damage.

Although these events represent a small fraction of fires reported each year these fires are particularly challenging to life safety. Based on data collected between 2011 and 2015, when Christmas trees were the first item ignited in home structure fires, one out of every 32 reported fire events resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.

WHAT: This dynamic demonstration shows how important it is to maintain well-watered Christmas trees, as well as the potential fire danger of artificial trees, and it highlights the safety practices that are important for both types of Christmas trees. 

The event will consist of a series of live fire experiments on both natural (Balsam Firs) and artificial trees to show the burning behavior of typical Christmas tree fires. These experiments will demonstrate the impact of moisture content (i.e., keeping your tree well-watered) on ignition, fire growth rate, and peak fire size of approximately six-foot tall trees.

WHO:  The experiments are sponsored by UMD’s FPE Department and conducted by Dr. Isaac Leventon, an FPE alumnus/adjunct professor and a research associate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Fire Research Division.

WHEN: Thursday, December 16, 2021 @ 9:00 A.M.  Masks and registration are required: https://go.umd.edu/fpe2021burn.

WHERE: FPE Koffel Associates Fire Standards Lab, 3229 J.M. Patterson Building, 4356 Stadium Drive (at the corner of Stadium Dr. and Regents Drive), University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. See map here. 

*Visitor parking is available on the top level of the Regents Drive garage and in the Xfinity parking lot (validation codes available).  Please follow this link for additional parking details: https://transportation.umd.edu/parking. Follow this link to an interactive campus map: https://maps.umd.edu/map/

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please visit: https://fpe.umd.edu/events/christmas-fire-safety-demo

About the A. James Clark School of Engineering

The University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering is a premier program, ranked among the top 20 in the world. Located just a few miles from Washington, D.C., the Clark School is at the center of a constellation of high-tech companies and federal laboratories, offering students and faculty access to unique professional opportunities.

Our broad spectrum of academic programs, including the world’s only accredited undergraduate fire protection engineering program, is complemented by a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, early hands-on educational experiences, and participation in national and international competitions.

The Clark School is leading research advancements in aerospace, bioengineering, robotics, nanotechnology, disaster resilience, energy and sustainability, and cybersecurity. From the universal product code to satellite radio, SMS text messaging to the implantable insulin pump, our students, faculty, and alumni are engineering life-changing innovations for millions. Learn more at www.eng.umd.edu.