What Caused the Christmas Fire that Took Little Ava's Life?

Peterborough, ONA fire accident is horrific at any time of the year. But it's always worse close to Christmas. Little wonder that there seems to be an increase in fires across the Yuletide, as families in a holiday mood trot out Christmas lights that are sometimes old and frayed, artificial trees that are flammable, or a real Christmas tree that is allowed to dry out and evolve into a Christmas tree and fire hazard. A Christmas lights fire is devastating. Any fire is devastating.

Especially if it takes a life, as it did last week in a small city north of Toronto. Ava was just 3 years old, looking forward to Christmas with the rest of her siblings, and probably went to sleep last Sunday night with visions of sugarplums dancing in her head.

But there will be no sugarplums for Ava, after the townhouse she shared with her family suddenly erupted in flames 11 days before Christmas. The fast-moving fire, which so far has not revealed a cause, displaced several families just a week before the holidays. The community has rallied around the families in an attempt to get them housed, clothed and cheered with Christmas presents in time for the holiday. However, for the single mother of little Ava, there will be no Christmas cheer this year, or for years to come.

Christmas is the season of fire accident for firefighters. In colder climates, improperly-working wood stoves or other heating appliances can be factor—but everywhere the ever-present string of Christmas lights and other electrical ornaments, as well as candles, just increase the risk.

Christmas lights can be old. But they can also be defective. With more and more products now manufactured overseas, quality can be a factor. Corners can be cut, especially for products that are used only during a handful of days each year. Sadly, lights that are carefully installed onto a tree according to instructions, in a home properly complimented with smoke detectors by a responsible family, can often turn on them.

And there are more to choose from, too. Homes, and Christmas trees can be a potpourri or exotic lights and motorized gizmos that can wow the kids and guests, only to chase them from their beds after a spark, or a short-circuit ignites a tree branch. Sometimes, lights are left on overnight, to illuminate a tree for excited kids waking up Christmas morning.

But sometimes, it's just lights left on in another room while guests are elsewhere enjoying dinner. By the time the alarm goes off, it's often too late.

A family from Staten Island is suing Home Depot over the Model 1225LS Snowflake On/Off Touch Control Tree ornament. They're also suing Lamson & Sessions Company, doing business as Lamson Home Products and Carlon.

Three years ago the darling accessory touched off a fire that sent the family jumping from a second-story window to safety. Karen Trigliano and her 12-year-old daughter were both injured in the fall. Their home was severely damaged. Thankfully the family escaped with their lives, but their Christmas was ruined. It could have been a lot worse.

The lawsuit, naming all five family members as plaintiffs, was filed recently in state Supreme Court, St. George. It contends the ornament was improperly made, inadequately safeguarded and not fit for its intended use.

There will be others. Christmas 2008 is just days away, and New Years will come along not long after that. Sadly, the New Year will represent a painful start for many families who will wake up this Christmas morning not to presents under a tree, but to smoke and fire engulfing their world, threatening their very lives.

All because of Christmas lights that are often cheaply made. A Christmas lights fire can be avoided. Sadly, it happens all too often—and while a Yule fire is a tradition for many families, a Christmas tree and fire do not mix. When they do, a catastrophic fire accident can result. And while a Yule fire behind the hearth is comforting, a Christmas fire is anything but festive. And a Christmas funeral is the cruelest blow to what otherwise should be a joyous holiday.