Christmas tree fire in Feb.? Yup!

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Prof is burned by a Yule tree that caught fire
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Associated Press
A Princeton University economics professor and former presidential adviser was in critical condition yesterday after being burned while carrying a blazing Christmas tree from his home.

David F. Bradford, who served as a top economic adviser to former President George H.W. Bush, suffered third-degree burns over half his body early Tuesday morning, police said.

Bradford, 66, was being treated at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

The fire was caused by one of about 10 lit candles on the tree, which had been in the house since December, police told the Times of Trenton.

Bradford apparently was upstairs when his wife told him the tree was on fire. He was critically injured while trying to carry the tree out of the home, the newspaper reported.

Firefighters quickly put out the fire, limiting damage to the house.

A professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School, Bradford also holds positions with the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Mass., the American Institute for Public Policy Research in Washington, and the New York University School of Law.

"All of David's colleagues and friends here at the school were shocked and saddened to learn of this tragic event, and our thoughts are with him and his family, hoping for his successful recovery," said Anne-Marie Slaughter, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School.

From November 1991 to January 1993, Bradford was a member of the President's Council of Economic Advisers. During a stint from 1975 to 1976 at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, he helped produce a text on tax reform considered a forerunner of the major U.S. income tax reform enacted in 1986, according to Princeton University's Web site.

[MemphisE34a]

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Quote:
The fire was caused by one of about 10 lit candles on the tree, which had been in the house since December, police told the Times of Trenton.
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And this guy is a professor at Princeton? The story does leave the possibility that his wife did it with out his knowledge; which could explain the complete lack of common sense, but c'mon.

As far as still having the tree. Its February, I mean why take it down now, you'll just have to put one back up on 10 months....right?

[Res343cue]

Originally posted by MemphisE34a
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Quote:
The fire was caused by one of about 10 lit candles on the tree, which had been in the house since December, police told the Times of Trenton.
---------------------------------------------------------

And this guy is a professor at Princeton? The story does leave the possibility that his wife did it with out his knowledge; which could explain the complete lack of common sense, but c'mon.

As far as still having the tree. Its February, I mean why take it down now, you'll just have to put one back up on 10 months....right?

While a few months after Christmas, this may not be the custom, but traditional tree lighting is candles. 2 months seems excessive, and I'm sure this tree was pretty dried out.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

I feel bad for the old professor and wish him a speedy recovery....

This episode proves something.. the more "education" you get, the more common sense "takes a hike". Something has to be lost to make room for all that "knowledge".

[StayBack500FT]

On the serious side - I do wish him well in his recovery.

On a not-so-serious side - At least he didn't trip over the pumpkin on the front porch.

[spearsm]

Originally posted by StayBack500FT
On the serious side - I do wish him well in his recovery.

On a not-so-serious side - At least he didn't trip over the pumpkin on the front porch.

****pffffftttt****** the sound of coffee exiting my nostrils...
ROFLMBO

But seriously, I wish em well, and I bet they don't leave a tree up that long again.

[arhaney]

That's got to be a new record or something...........

[thebigcheese]

Another example of God putting stupid people in their own special place. The ER.

Hope he gets better soon though. My mom used to work at Temple, and that is a daggum good hospital.

[gunnyv]

Stayback, you got me too with the pumpkin. He would probably have landed on the Easter Bunny.