Holiday Decorations and Fire Safety

As winter approaches, holiday decorations will appear in campus buildings and residence halls. Creating an inclusive and festive atmosphere is an excellent community-building activity, but decorations at your K-12 school, college, or university can pose fire risks. Develop and enforce safeguards.

Establish and Promote a Policy

• Provide students, faculty, and staff with a list of rules and regulations related to holiday decorations. While many of these rules apply year-round, remind your campus community about general fire precautions and specific rules for holiday decorations. Consider linking related training, such as general fire safety or fire extinguisher use.
• Use your campus or local fire department as a resource when creating your policy. Ensure compliance with applicable state or local fire codes.
• Apply the policy consistently throughout your campus. Train resident assistants or supervisors in student housing to inspect all holiday decorations, enforce policies, and resolve violations. Instruct staff about the nearest fire extinguisher’s location, how to use it, and how to report a fire.

Suggested Policy Elements

Policies should address these guidelines:

• Cut greenery. Allowing live/cut trees, wreaths, and garlands — which are highly flammable — poses a high risk of fire. Artificial trees, if labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant, are safer. But people shouldn’t place them near heat sources, including computers and televisions. Never allow decorations to block a doorway or emergency exit.
• Holiday lights. Some schools prohibit holiday lights. If you allow them, limit them to indoor lights that contain the Underwriters Laboratory seal, as using outdoor grade lights indoors poses a fire hazard. Require people to follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions, especially with respect to number of strings attached to each other. Inspect strings of lights for any frayed or exposed metal parts. Never use holiday lights on a metallic, artificial tree.
• Extension cords. Many institutions limit the use of extension cords in campus buildings and living quarters. If you allow holiday lights, limit the number of light strands per extension cord and per room. Don’t place cords under carpets, rugs, or doorways or connect multiple cords together. Unplug extension cords whenever unattended and while people sleep.
• Open flames. Never allow candles, lamps, incense, and any object with an open flame. Policies should list specific exceptions, such as science classrooms or fireplaces.
• Fire equipment. Don’t attach decorations to (or block from view) fire sprinklers, smoke alarms, exit signs, emergency lights, and fire equipment such as hoses or extinguishers. Prohibit artificial snow spray, which easily activates fire alarms and is a common lung irritant.
• Decoration removal. Remove holiday decorations no later than the closing of the residence halls at the end of the semester.