Holiday Fire Demonstrations Highlight the Rapid Onset of Disaster

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — In moments, everything can change. Fire rescue teams from across Tampa Bay gathered to emphasize the urgency of fire safety during the holiday season, illustrating how quickly festive joy can turn into an emergency.

As the holidays approach, several fire hazards may emerge, ranging from overloaded electrical outlets to improperly thawed turkeys and flammable Christmas trees.

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During a demonstration on Friday morning, a holiday display was engulfed in flames in under a minute. The exercise featured two rooms: one equipped with sprinklers and another without. This side-by-side burn vividly showcased how rapidly a Christmas tree can catch fire and underscored the minimal time available for evacuation.

“We can take preventative measures by inspecting our tree before setting it up,” advised Vivian Shedd, the public information officer for Tampa Fire Rescue. “Check the lights for burnt-out bulbs and examine the wires for fraying, as these could lead to electrical problems.”

“Make sure you, measure it correctly,” Herrin said. “Keep it away from anything combustible. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed completely dried. And then, make sure you have a three foot, no pets, no kid, radius around that turkey fryer and then enjoy your turkey.”

St. Pete Fire Rescue Lt. Michelle Methot tells us a fire extinguisher is an inexpensive and vital safety tool to always have in place.

“So we use the acronym Pass. So P is for pull the pin. So you’re gonna pull the pin first. Now you’re going to lift it up. And you’re going to aim the nozzle at the seat of the fire,” Methot said .

Crews also shared tips on cooking safety, electrical hazards, heating, and candles, all common sources of holiday fires.

Crisis averted here all morning, the biggest take away today, stay alert, take precautions, and keep your family safe this holiday season, and all year.