Monmouth fire officials show potential dangers of Christmas trees

FREEHOLD — Firefighters respond to an average of 160 Christmas tree fires a year in the United States, and officials at the Monmouth County Fire Academy demonstrated Monday how quickly such fires can spread.

Fire officials lit two fires around a pair of gift-lined pines, one with a sprinkler overhead and one without. The fire in the room without a sprinkler spread quickly, turning the room into a charred husk in a matter of minutes.

Fire officials said it demonstrates the need for updated fire safety equipment in the home and added vigilance around the holidays. According to the National Fire Protection Association, about two people a year die in the United States in fires started by Christmas trees.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Christmas trees: Monmouth NJ fire officials show potential dangers