University of Maryland Annual Christmas Tree Fire Safety Demonstration

Live experiments showcase impact of hydrating trees to reduce fire casualties.

MEDIA ADVISORY  December 3, 2025

CONTACT:
Daniela Benites

dbenites@umd.edu

COLLEGE PARK, MD–The Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) at the University of Maryland (UMD) will host its annual Christmas Tree Fire Safety Demonstration starting at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. 

Why: According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), between 2018-2022, United States fire departments responded to an estimated average of 155 home structure fires per year caused by Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of four civilian deaths, seven civilian injuries, and $15 million in direct property damage. Although, current statistics indicate that the number of Christmas tree fires has significantly decreased over the years according to a 2022 NFPA study—from a high of 850 in 1980, to 270 in 1998, to 160 more recently, Christmas tree fires are particularly challenging to life safety, and represent an outsized impact on direct property damage. A 2017 NFPA report found that home structure fires that started with the ignition of a Christmas tree were nearly 4.5 times more deadly than those caused by the burning of any other item. This underscores the importance of maintaining safety practices in place when decorating your home for the holiday season. 

What: A series of live experiments will showcase the burning behavior of well-hydrated trees in comparison to unhealthy, dried out ones. These tests demonstrate the impact of tree moisture content on ignition, fire growth rate, and peak fire size, which emphasizes the importance of watering the trees to reduce their potential fire hazards. More details about the experiments can be found on the event program. 

Who: The Christmas Tree Fire Safety Demonstration event is hosted by FPE, and the experiments will be conducted by Isaac T. Leventon, a research scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and an adjunct lecturer at UMD.

Where: The demonstrations will take place inside the Koffel Associates Fire Standards Laboratory, Room 3229 of the J.M. Patterson Building at 4356 Stadium Drive University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, which is located on the corner of Stadium Dr. and Regents Drive. To access directions to the building on Google Maps, click here. 

Parking: Upon registration, parking instructions will become available for media quests. Additionally, special accommodations can be made for those using vehicles that are larger than standard size (such as news vans). 

Registration: If you would like to attend the live demonstrations, please fill out the required form by December 10 at 5 p.m. to secure parking and entrance to the laboratory.

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.