The holiday season is meant to feel joyful and comforting—a time of glowing lights, warm gatherings, and homes filled with the people we love most. Yet behind the beauty of the season, there’s a reality that isn’t often talked about: the holidays are one of the most dangerous times of the year for home fires and property damage.
As public adjusters, we see firsthand what can happen when a single spark, flicker, or electrical fault turns a celebration into a loss. And while GEM Public Adjusters is here to protect homeowners when damage occurs, we also believe strongly in prevention: helping families understand the risks, make smarter choices, and review their insurance coverage before a crisis hits.
This guide is designed to give homeowners a deeper look at holiday safety—rooted in real statistics, practical advice, and the experience we bring from working with property claims throughout the tri-state area.
The Hidden Risks Behind the Holiday Glow
Holiday décor is meant to be festive, not dangerous. But the numbers show just how quickly beautiful holiday traditions can become hazardous.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that December is consistently one of the top months for home fires nationwide. Christmas tree fires alone—while not the most common—are incredibly destructive. On average, they cause millions in direct property damage every year and are far more likely to result in fatalities than other types of home fires because they burn so rapidly and intensely.
The American Red Cross estimates nearly 47,000 fires occur during the winter holidays, causing more than $500 million in property damage. Candles, lights, fireplaces, overloaded outlets, dried-out trees, and increased cooking all play a role.
When you step back, it becomes clear that these aren’t rare events. They are patterns. And that means they are preventable.
Keeping Your Tree, Lights, and Decorations Safe
Christmas trees—especially real ones—can turn from festive to hazardous in a matter of seconds if they dry out. A dry tree ignites much faster than most people expect, and once flames spread through the needles, temperatures rise rapidly.
Artificial trees come with their own risks. Many older trees are not fire-resistant, and worn wiring on pre-lit models can lead to electrical shorts.
Holiday lights are another common source of danger. Each year, fire investigators trace tree and decorating fires back to frayed cords, overloaded plugs, and lights that were never turned off before bed. When families are busy hosting, cooking, or traveling, it’s easy to miss these basic safety checks—but they matter.
This is one of the few places where it makes sense to include a short list because these steps can prevent the vast majority of holiday electrical fires:
- Make sure real trees are watered daily and kept far from fireplaces or heat vents.
- Inspect old light strings and replace any with cracked or frayed wires.
- Turn off all lights before leaving the house or going to sleep.
These simple habits dramatically reduce risk, yet most fires we see come from one small oversight.
Candle Flames and Fireplace Safety: Simple Details Matter
Candles are nearly synonymous with the holiday season—on mantels, in windows, around centerpieces, or lining walkways. But December remains the peak month for candle-related home fires, according to national fire data.
Falling decorations, pets bumping a table, or someone leaving a room “just for a minute” are common triggers. Even sturdy-looking candles can tip over if wax softens unevenly or holders become unstable.
Fireplaces bring another layer of risk. Chimneys that haven’t been cleaned can spark, decorations hung too close to flames can ignite, and embers can jump farther than expected. Many families also forget that stockings, garlands, and holiday greenery are all fuel for a fire.
Holiday warmth feels comforting, but it requires attention—especially when guests, children, and distractions are part of the mix.
The Overlooked Area: Kitchen and Cooking Hazards
While lights and candles often get the blame, the kitchen remains one of the biggest sources of holiday property damage. With multiple dishes cooking at once, people moving in and out of the kitchen, and timers competing with doorbells, it’s easy for a pan to be left unattended—something that instantly raises the risk of a cooking fire.
Holiday cooking is joyful, but stressful. Being mindful, using timers, and keeping flammable items away from burners may seem like simple reminders, but these are exactly the moments when small lapses turn into big problems.
Reviewing Your Insurance Coverage Before the Holidays
Most families never look at their policy until after damage happens—and that’s where we see avoidable challenges. The holidays are actually one of the smartest times to review your insurance coverage because:
- Your home is full of decorations, expensive gifts, and seasonal items.
- You are using more electrical devices, heat sources, and cooking equipment than usual.
- Your home may be hosting guests, which raises liability considerations.
Understanding your policy ahead of an incident means you won’t be caught off guard by coverage limits, exclusions, or deductibles after a fire or smoke event.
Do You Have Enough Dwelling Coverage?
Construction and material prices fluctuate, and many homeowners find that their policy limits no longer match what it would actually cost to rebuild. If your policy hasn’t been updated in years, now is the time to review it with your agent—or with a public adjuster who can explain it in plain language.
What About Your Personal Property Coverage?
Holiday gifts, electronics, jewelry, and decorations add up quickly. Certain items—especially jewelry and high-value personal property—often have special limits unless they’re individually scheduled.
If your home experienced significant fire or smoke damage tomorrow, would your current personal property limit fully cover what you own today—not years ago?
Is Your Deductible Manageable?
High deductibles save money on premiums, but many homeowners don’t realize they would struggle to pay that amount out of pocket during a crisis. Understanding your deductible ahead of time puts you in a better position to make decisions after damage occurs.
Documenting Your Home Before the Holidays
A home inventory is one of the best ways to protect yourself. A simple smartphone video walking through each room can save you weeks of stress if you later need to file a claim.
This step is so often overlooked, yet it’s one of the first things we ask for when helping clients with claims.
If Something Goes Wrong: Protecting Yourself in the First Moments
Even with the best preparation, accidents can still happen. Fires move quickly, and smoke damage can spread through a home in seconds. Your first priority is always safety—getting everyone out, calling emergency services, and making sure the structure is safe before reentering.
After that, the early steps you take can significantly affect your insurance claim. Homeowners should avoid cleaning, throwing away damaged items, or authorizing major repairs before speaking with professionals. Everything needs to be documented. Every damaged item needs to be photographed. Every receipt matters.
This is often where homeowners feel overwhelmed. That’s when GEM Public Adjusters steps in, taking over the burden of documenting the loss, interpreting the policy, communicating with the insurance company, and ensuring the claim is valued accurately—not minimally.
Why Public Adjusters Make a Difference After Holiday Losses
Insurance companies are not intentionally unkind—they are simply large institutions with their own processes, timeframes, and internal goals. But those goals do not always align with the best interests of the homeowner.
Public adjusters exist for that reason:
To represent you, not the insurance company.
To ensure your damages are fully recognized, not minimized.
To negotiate a settlement that reflects the actual cost of repair, not the lowest possible estimate.
Holiday claims can be particularly complex because smoke can travel through vents, electronics can be damaged without burning, and structural issues can be hidden behind walls. Insurance adjusters may not always catch every detail—but we do.
A Safer, More Secure Holiday Season Starts With Awareness
The holidays are a time for connection, comfort, and celebration. And with a little awareness, they can also be safe. Water the tree. Check the lights. Be cautious with candles and fireplaces. Cook mindfully. And take time to understand your insurance coverage before you need it.
If the unexpected happens, remember: you don’t have to navigate the claims process alone.
GEM Public Adjusters is here to protect your home, your investment, and your peace of mind—during the holidays and every season of the year.