From Reactions.

A common internet recipe claims to help fireproof your Christmas tree with borax… but the Reactions team was skeptical. We set out to test the best ways to keep your tree safe, with the help of some fire scientists at the University of Maryland. Along the way, we set some trees on fire and collected data on which ingredients could help keep your tree green and unlit, and which might turn it into brown, crusty tinder. Safety spoiler alert: You should really, really water your Christmas tree.

Special thanks to Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland for letting us join in on their tests.

Credits:
Producers:
Andrew Sobey
Elaine Seward
Darren Weaver

Writers:
Alex Dainis, Ph.D.
George Zaidan

Hosts:
Alex Dainis, Ph.D.
George Zaidan

Executive Producer:
Matthew Radcliff

Scientific Consultants:
Fernando Raffan-Montoya, Ph.D.
Isaac Leventon Ph.D.
Michelle Boucher, Ph.D.
Leila Duman, Ph.D.

Executive in Charge for PBS: Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming for PBS: Gabrielle Ewing
Assistant Director of Programming for PBS: John Campbell

Reactions is a production of the American Chemical Society.
© 2024 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Sources:
https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/christmas-tree-fires
https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/12/wpi-video-shows-how-fast-a-christmas-tree-fire-can-destroy-a-home.html
https://spectrumnews1.com/ma/worcester/news/2023/12/07/wpi-fire-protection-students-show-how-fast-a-dry-christmas-tree-will-burn
https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/5/boron#:~:text=Boron%20occurs%20as%20an%20orthoboric,Mojave%20Desert%20in%20California%2C%20USA.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK599080/#:~:text=The%20chemical%20properties%20of%20boron,acid%20and%20other%20boron%20compounds.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225774867_Chemical_mechanism_of_fire_retardance_of_boric_acid_on_wood

Effects of boric acid and/or borax treatments on the fire resistance of bamboo filament

https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/temp-of-wood-flames.319890/

Effects of boric acid and/or borax treatments on the fire resistance of bamboo filament

https://www.borax.com/products/applications/fire-retardancy#:~:text=If%20a%20fire%20ignites%2C%20borates,gases%20that%20can%20fuel%20combustion.
https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/5831