Piedmont, Oklahoma, is one of the fastest growing communities in the state, but it still keeps its small town feel. Last week, the community was called together to take care of its own after two families lost their homes in fires on consecutive nights.
According to Piedmont Fire Chief Andy Logan, the city averages about 10 house fires each year. Having two house fires on back-to-back nights, only 5 miles away from each other, is a rarity. That both fires resulted in total loss, is even more rare.
Fortunately, in both cases, all of the house's occupants escaped without injury.
In the early morning hours of December 3, a fire broke out on the second floor of a two-story home in north Piedmont. A family of four escaped, although they lost a pet in the fire. Piedmont community members rallied around the family collecting donations for the Aber family, but within hours, they would be called upon to help another family in need.
The night following the fire in the Abers' home, a fire broke out in the home of Danielle Yankey and her four daughters. The contents of the structure were a total loss. To add insult to injury, the Yankey family was insured only for the structure, not the contents of the home. While the community stepped forward again to help Yankey and her girls, the Aber family asked that, because they are insured, donations go to the Yankey family instead of to them, showing selflessness in the face of difficulty.
Investigators have not released the cause of either fire, but at this time of year, house fires can be triggered by a number of factors, including space heaters and holiday decorations.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an average of 230 house fires begin with Christmas trees each year. While Christmas tree fires are relatively rare in comparison with other types of home fires, they are often more serious. On average, one death occurs for every 142 reported home fires. For home fires starting with Christmas trees, the death rate is one in 40.
It's not surprising when you see just how quickly a Christmas tree fire can spread:
Christmas tree fires can start a number of ways:
Interestingly, most Christmas tree fires occur after Christmas, and 20 percent of Christmas tree fires are intentionally set.
Fires are more common in real trees than artificial Christmas trees, and dry trees burn much more quickly than well-watered trees. To minimize your risk, make sure natural trees are watered frequently. Inspect holiday lights thoroughly before placing them on a tree, make sure all heat sources are kept well away from Christmas trees, and never use real candles to light a Christmas tree.
