(WHDH) – Christmas trees help bring the spirit of the holidays into your home but unwatered trees are to blame for hundreds of house fires every year.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NFPA) shared a dramatic video, showing a side-by-side comparison of two trees on fire, one that is watered and one that is dry.
While the fire in the watered tree does not spread, the dry tree becomes fully engulfed in flames in under 10 seconds, causing major damage.
Over 200 house fires are caused by Christmas trees each year, leading to an average of 6 deaths, 16 injuries, and $14.8 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The NFPA says 40 percent of Christmas tree fires happen because of electrical distribution or lighting equipment, while 25 percent start because of a heat source that is placed too close to a tree.
Experts recommend watering your Christmas tree on a daily basis.
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