Tree goes up in flames in seconds

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - All it takes is one small spark, a few seconds and your Christmas tree and home can be up in flames in less than a minute.

For the past two weeks the Lafayette Fire Department has been watering one tree every day. The second tree they haven't watered at all during the 14 days. During a demonstration Thursday morning, firefighters showed News 18 how quickly the tree that hasn't been watered can go up in flames.

"We are at three seconds, now 10 seconds and 22 seconds and its fully engulfed," inspector Todd Trent with the Lafayette Fire Department said. "It's completely gone at two minutes and ten seconds."

The next step during the demonstration was to light the tree that has been hydrated for two weeks on fire.

"We're at six seconds into it and we still have no self-contained fire on the tree itself," Trent explained. "Now we're 20 seconds into it and still nothing. And at one minute we still don't have anything. At this time at one minute on the other tree that wasn't watered, it was fully engulfed."

Inspector Trent said the difference simply comes down to taking a few extra minutes every day to properly water your tree. Trent also explained that it doesn't take much to start the fire in the first place.

"All it takes is multiple extension cords that either light the tree or you might have other trinkets on the tree that require power," Trent explained. "Open flames, candles or fireplaces near a tree could also start the fire."

If you haven't already, when you do find the perfect tree this holiday make sure to take those extra steps to take proper care of it so your holiday tradition of decorating doesn't turn deadly.