Initial Setup and Hypothesis

• Adam and Jamie testing Christmas tree lights fire hazard
• Previous bench test produced spark from overloaded extension cord
• Plan: dry tree extensively, use 5x more lights than shop test
• Add remote ignition rig as backup to replicate spark
• Location: Pleasanton fire center with Captain Dickey

Real-World Context

• Captain Dickey confirms Christmas tree fires occur annually
• Specific incident: December 26, 1997 house fire
  • Child turned on Christmas tree lights
  • Tree immediately ignited, burned house, significant damage

Test Tree Preparation

• Kiln-dried tree (dried at flower drying facility for 5 solid days)
• Described as "dry as a bone" and "Christmas tree shaped match"
• Added decorative elements: tacky ornaments, garland, colored bulbs
• All designed to increase flammability

Lighting Setup - Extreme Configuration

• 2,500 Christmas lights total
• 72 strands of lights, 1,800 bulbs
• Couple hundred amps of electrical power
• More power than most houses have on single circuit or entire house
• Compared brightness to Rockefeller Center tree
• Described as "bright as the Sun"

Backup Ignition System

• Neon transformer: 110V input to 5,000-6,000V output
• Straightforward fire-starting method if lights fail
• Nicknamed "old Sparky"

Test Execution and Results

• Monitored from safe distance with fire department ready
• Temperature monitoring: reached maximum 240°F after 21 minutes
• Smoking observed through windows at 40 minutes
• 2,500 bulbs insufficient to cause auto-ignition
• Spark ignition successful: "three two one bingo we have ignition"
• Fire spread extremely rapidly - "out of control" speed

Fire Behavior Analysis

• Fire spread too fast for household response
• Even with fire extinguisher, would be ineffective
• Best response: immediately leave house
• Fire would continue growing with additional fuel (drapes, furniture)
• Without additional fuel, would burn itself out

Statistical Context

• December 24-26 annually in US:
  • Over 10,000 fires
  • 40 deaths
  • Over $80 million damage
  • All from Christmas tree fires

Myth Conclusion

• Myth: BUSTED for auto-ignition from bulb heat
• 2,500 bulbs insufficient to create auto-ignition heat
• However: overloading extension cords can create shorts/sparks
• Shorts can start tree fires
• Public service announcement rather than myth