NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Whether it’s because of decorations overloading the electrical sockets, candles being left unattended, or turkeys staying in the oven too long, people are reportedly 50% more likely to die in a house fire during the holidays.
Florida-based injury lawyers Anidjar & Levine analyzed data from the U.S. Fire Administration to determine which states had the highest number of deaths and injuries for every 1,000 residential fires. The law firm’s digital public relations agency, Journo Research, shared the results of that study with News 2, as well as the reasons for the fire risk in the states with the most deaths.
Alaska came in at No. 1 because it saw 25.5 deaths and 64.4 injuries — which is more than triple the national average of 19.8 injuries — for every 1,000 residential fires. Not only does the Last Frontier experience long winter months with extended periods of darkness, causing many people to rely on artificial lighting and space heaters, but many communities are isolated, so emergency services’ response times can be longer.
North Dakota was ranked second, with 16.3 deaths for every 1,000 house fires. The Peace Garden State experiences significant temperature fluctuations, which can lead to rapid freezing and thawing of pipes and a need for frequent heating adjustments, increasing the risk of fires through the potential for electrical malfunctions or gas leaks. Parts of North Dakota also have a high concentration of older buildings with outdated wiring and heating systems.
Following up at No. 3 was Wyoming, which saw 14.3 deaths for every 1,000 residential fires. When you combine the Equality State’s susceptibility to extremely strong winds with its semi-arid climate, fires can easily ignite and get out of control. The tradition of using live Christmas trees is an additional factor when examining house fire risks in Wyoming.
Based on the data, Tennessee was ranked fourth, with 13.5 deaths for every 1,000 residential fires. Cooking fires are one of the leading causes of house fires in the Volunteer State, which has a strong cultural emphasis on family gatherings during the holidays. Extended kitchen use — like frying and grilling — can increase the risk of a fire, especially when combined with the distractions from the festivities. Tennessee’s high poverty rates may also contribute to this risk because many families will resort to unsafe heating methods to stay warm or live in buildings without appropriate fire safety equipment.
Nebraska came in at No. 5 after seeing 12.8 deaths for every 1,000 residential fires. As one might assume for the Cornhusker State, many homes are located on or near farms, which are full of flammable materials like hay. The dry winter climate can also increase the spread of fires. Furthermore, 92.2% of Nebraska fire departments are volunteer-based, which could cause issues with staffing and response times, thus increasing the chance of injury or death due to a fire.
The full ranking of states based on the number of house fire fatalities is listed below:
| Rank | State | Deaths per 1,000 house fires |
| 1 | Alaska | 25.5 |
| 2 | North Dakota | 16.3 |
| 3 | Wyoming | 14.3 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 13.5 |
| 5 | Nebraska | 12.8 |
| 6 | Kansas | 12.2 |
| 7 | Ohio | 11.3 |
| 7 | Iowa | 11.3 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 11.1 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 10 |
| 10 | Arkansas | 9.8 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 8.7 |
| 12 | Idaho | 8.6 |
| 13 | Kentucky | 8.5 |
| 14 | Montana | 8.3 |
| 15 | Washington | 7.9 |
| 16 | Missouri | 7.7 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 7.6 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 7.4 |
| 19 | New Mexico | 7.3 |
| 20 | Michigan | 7.2 |
| 21 | Virginia | 7 |
| 22 | Alabama | 6.9 |
| 23 | South Dakota | 6.6 |
| 23 | Connecticut | 6.6 |
| 24 | Illinois | 6.3 |
| 25 | Texas | 6.2 |
| 25 | Georgia | 6.2 |
| 26 | Louisiana | 5.9 |
| 27 | Nevada | 5 |
| 27 | California | 5 |
| 28 | Vermont | 4.9 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 4.6 |
| 30 | Florida | 4.5 |
| 31 | Mississippi | 4.2 |
| 32 | Maine | 4 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | 3.9 |
| 34 | Colorado | 3.8 |
| 34 | Indiana | 3.8 |
| 35 | Hawaii | 3.5 |
| 36 | New Jersey | 3.1 |
| 37 | Arizona | 2.9 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | 2.5 |
| 38 | Delaware | 2.5 |
| 39 | Utah | 2.4 |
| 40 | Maryland | 2.3 |
| 41 | Oregon | 1.3 |
| 42 | New York | 1.1 |
| 43 | Rhode Island | 0.9 |
| 44 | North Carolina | 0.6 |
Journo Research shared a statement from an Anidjar & Levine spokesperson about the findings:
The festive season is one of the best times of year; streets filled with twinkling lights, plates bursting with delicious food, and cozying up by the fire after a long day.
However, it’s also the most dangerous season when it comes to residential fires. With so much going on, fire safety can be overlooked.
Although everyone should take the necessary precautions as we head into the depths of winter, these states should take extra care. The environmental and logistical factors that affect those featured on the list put them at a bigger risk of a house fire in the coming months.
Make sure your smoke alarms work, turn off and unplug Christmas lights before bed, and avoid leaving your cooker unattended.
The U.S. Fire Administration has a few other tips for avoiding holiday house fires, like keeping candles at least 1 foot away from anything that burns or using battery-operated flameless candles. After all, almost half of December’s home decoration fires are started by candles, with Christmas being the peak day for candle fires.
For those who celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reiterated the importance of candle safety when using a menorah or kinara. The organization also shared some recommendations for oil frying during those holidays, like monitoring the stovetop carefully, heating the oil slowly to the temperature needed for frying, adding food gently to the pan so the oil doesn’t splatter, and keeping a lid beside your pan while you cook so you can slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner if you have a fire.
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends keeping Christmas trees at least 3 feet away from heat sources — because having a heat source too close is the cause of more than one in five Christmas tree fires — and making sure the tree isn’t blocking any exits. In addition, a dry tree can burn very hot and very fast, so get rid of it as soon as it’s dry.
For more holiday fire safety advice, visit the websites for the U.S. Fire Administration or the NFPA.
