SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- As the Christmas season kicks off, the month of December also sees an uptick in house fires. The National Fire Protection Association reports that, from 2020 to 2024, fire departments nationwide responded to over eight-hundred fires believed to have started by Christmas decorations—and an average of 143 homes burned after the Christmas tree caught fire. South Bend Fire’s Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention Derek Erquhart stops by the ABC57 studio with tips on how to stay safe when hanging up Christmas lights and other holiday decor.
