The Straight Dope: Why is it dangerous to burn wrapping paper?

[Send questions for Cecil Adams: cecil@straightdope.com](mailto:cecil@straightdope.com) FOLLOW CECIL ADAMS ON [TWITTER]( AND [FACEBOOK](! [061208.gif] THREADSPOTTING: THE BEST OF THE STRAIGHT DOPE MESSAGE BOARD — 12/14/2018 Don't spend it all in one place! [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #1 12/08/2006 Dear Cecil: A fire department official appeared on our local news tonight, giving holiday-related fire prevention tips. One was: don't burn discarded wrapping paper in your wood-burning stove or fireplace. When asked by the interviewer why this was a bad idea, the official stated that the paper burned at a higher temperature than most stoves or fireplaces were rated for. I find it hard to believe that wrapping paper could achieve a higher burning temp than, say, a good piece of oak or maple. I suspect that if there's any drawback to this practice at all, it would be the excessive amount of ash produced and/or the ink or other coatings producing possibly toxic gases or chimney-clogging by-products. What say you, Cecil? — Jerry H., via e-mail Cecil replies: Be kind. It’s tough enough getting local functionaries straight on the basic message — you’re expecting miracles if you want them to grasp all the fine points. Burning wrapping paper in your stove or fireplace is a bad idea, but not because you’re going to exceed some mysterious rating. Rather it’s because, among other things, you don’t want to set fire to your roof. [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 12/13/1999 Dear Straight Dope: Where did the word and beverage "egg nog" come from? — Susie Whitlock, Oakland, California SDStaff Dogster replies: The easy answer is just to say that egg nog, defined as a drink in which the white and yolk of eggs — I’m presuming hen’s eggs here — are stirred up with hot beer, cider, wine, or other spirits, and that it’s a beverage of American origin, circa Revolutionary times. But as I’m bursting with holiday spirits, let me give you more. [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #2 — 12/21/2007 Dear Cecil: Recently I was purchasing sleepwear for my offspring. The paperwork attached to one garment informed me that it wasn't made with flame-resistant material and should therefore be worn snug. Other garments were clearly marked as not being intended as sleepwear because the material it was made out of wasn't flame resistant. This led me to wonder: why is my bundle of joy more likely to catch on fire in the middle of the night than during the day when he's running around in sweat pants and a T-shirt? — New Mommy, Anchorage Dear Cecil: What's the straight dope on children's sleepwear? In the U.S., children's pajamas and nightgowns are required by law to be flame-retardant, but I've been told the chemicals used to treat fabrics so they meet this standard cause cancer. Is that true? And how likely are children to catch fire anyway? I don't allow my children to smoke in bed, and I suspect they are more likely to get cancer. Which should I spend more time worrying about? — Befuddled in Boston Cecil replies: I figure I’ll address this issue now, as we’re heading into one of the fieriest stretches on the calendar. While the crown for outdoor fires belongs to July 4, the likelihood of unwanted home fires spikes over the winter holidays — compared to a typical day there are more than twice as many on New Year’s and nearly two and a half times as many on Christmas. Fires started by candles are four times likelier on Christmas, and the combo of wired-up tree, discarded wrapping paper, and oaring fireplace (often in close proximity) can result in the dreaded decoration fire, responsible on average for four times the property damage and almost 10 times* the fatalities of an ordinary house fire. In all, from the day before Christmas to the day after, an annual average of more than 12,000 fires nationwide cause about $92 million in damage and 34 fatalities. OK, enough seasonal cheer. [Click here]( for more. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [View this message as a webpage](. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. To advertise on The Straight Dope, contact Rich Hummel at rhummel@suntimes.com [Privacy Policy/Terms of Use]( • [Unsubscribe]( © 2018 Straight Dope, LLC. 30 N Racine Ave. Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60607