Christmas Tree Lights Blamed for Md. Yacht Club Blaze

An electrical malfunction with a pre-lit, artificial Christmas tree caused a Dec. 12 fire at the Annapolis Yacht Club and more than $9 million in damage, firefighters announced Monday.

The investigation concluded Monday into the fire that burned the clubhouse in downtown Annapolis. Dozens of families watched the fire and traffic was frozen in the city on the Saturday afternoon.

"I'm very concerned that yet another Christmas tree fire has had a major impact on our community," said Annapolis Fire Chief David Stokes in a statement. "There is still a lot of holiday season left. I urge the community to be mindful of the potential dangers of holiday decorations and the practice of good fire safety habits."

The yacht club fire comes at the close of a deadly year for Christmas tree fires in Anne Arundel County.

On Jan. 19, six people were killed in a four-alarm fire on Childs Point Road, just south of Annapolis. Investigators determined an overloaded electrical outlet sparked the apron of a cut Christmas tree, which caught fire and fueled the massive blaze.

In response, firefighters launched an effort last month to promote Christmas tree safety with social media posts, fliers and outreach to community agencies. The safety tips were shared online.

The Childs Point Road fire killed Don and Sandra Pyle, along with their four young grandchildren, students at the Severn School in Severna Park. The Pyles were hosting a sleepover for their grandchildren. Quickly, the flames spread through the 16,000-square-foot house — too quickly for anyone to escape.

Christmas lights on that tree had been on continuously for weeks, which contributed to the electrical failure that sparked the apron, investigators said. Also, the tree was dried out; it had been occasionally watered.

When investigators did test burns, they discovered a tree watered on the same schedule ignited in seconds. A tree that was watered regularly took much longer.

Throughout the nation, firefighters respond each year to 230 house fires that began with Christmas trees between 2007 and 2011, the most recent years available from the National Fire Protection Association.

Each year, these fires caused on average six deaths and 22 injuries among families, also $18.3 million in property damage, according to the association.

The National Christmas Tree Association estimated 25 million live trees will be sold this year.

At the Annapolis Yacht Club, nearly 100 firefighters responded to the three-alarm blaze.

The firefighters were dispatched at 2:16 p.m. and the fire quickly escalated, the flames rising from the roof. Firefighters had it controlled by 3:30 p.m. But it took several more hours before the fire was entirely extinguished by 7 p.m.

The clubhouse burned before the annual Christmas parade of lighted boats. More than 600 members and guests had reservations that evening, club officials have said.

The greatest damage was on the second and third stories ("decks"). Wooden hull models burned. Silver sailing trophies melted. The clubhouse, what was left, remained unsafe for the commodore's annual holiday party last week.

Annapolis Yacht Club lies at the heart of social life for hundreds of local families. Some 1,600 members belong to the club and the average member is 62. Another 90 people occupy a waiting list to join. The initiation fee is $11,000.

More than 150 people work at the club and officials have said they will be paid for 30 days after the fire.

On Monday, the firefighters who responded to the yacht club fire were recognized by state and county leaders, including Annapolis Mayor Mike Pantelides.

"We had a tragedy happen with the burning of the Annapolis yacht club — those priceless artifacts, lost forever in history," he said. "But the one thing that didn't happen was loss of life, and that's due to the dedication of these men and women."

Christmas tree safety

When a Christmas tree is cut, more than half its weight is water.

With proper care, you can maintain the quality and safety of your tree.

•Displaying trees in water in a traditional, reservoir-type stand is best way to maintain freshness and minimize the loss of needles.

•Use a stand with adequate water-capacity for your tree. Stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Some devices are available to maintain a constant water level in the stand.

•Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk to fit the stand. Outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.

•Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2 inch of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a "V" shape, which reduces the amount of water available to the tree. Drilling a hole in the trunk does not improve water uptake.

•Place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go six to eight hours after cutting and still take up water. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.

•Check the stand daily to make sure that the water does not fall below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water. The temperature of the water does not affect water uptake.

•Keep trees at least three feet away from major sources of heat: fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight. Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process and result in less water consumption.

•Use lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, to reduce drying out the tree. Always inspect light sets. If worn, replace with a new set. Do not overload electrical circuits. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or going to bed.

•Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.

•Some fire safety practices are good year round. Install and ensure operation of smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home, including the basement.

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