Investigators have determined an electrical failure igniting a nearby, dry Christmas tree caused the recent Annapolis mansion fire that killed four young children and their grandparents. In the wake of this tragedy, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) are joining forces to educate the public about the danger of dried out Christmas trees and the importance of electrical safety.
“The longer Christmas trees remain in the home, the more likely they are to dry out and become a fire hazard,” said Lorraine Carli, Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy for NFPA. “In fact, nearly 40 percent of U.S. Christmas tree fires occur in January, which emphasizes the importance of promptly removing them after the holidays to mitigate the risk of a home fire.”