National Fire Protection Association: It’s time to get rid of your Christmas tree

Real trees dry out over time, even if you water them, and will become a fire hazard

By: Tim Studebaker

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Maybe you haven’t had the time, or maybe you’re just not quite ready to let go of the holidays.  Whatever the reason, the National Fire Protection Association says if you have a real Christmas tree, now is the time to get rid of it, before it’s too late.

Susan McKelvey with the National Fire Protection Association says, “The longer they’re in our homes, the more flammable they become.”

The NFPA says it’s even more important than ever this year.  That’s because many families decorated earlier than usual, and those trees have been drying out in our homes for longer than a typical holiday season.

McKelvey says, “At this point, they may have Christmas trees in their homes for close to two months now, so it’s really too long to leave a tree in your home.”

According to the NFPA, Christmas trees cause an average of 160 house fires each year, and the drier the tree gets, the higher the risk as shown in an NFPA video (included in the story video above).

McKelvey says, “A dried out tree goes up in flames in seconds, so if you do have a Christmas tree fire, it tends to be more serious.”

Their advice: Dispose of the tree properly, and never burn it in a fireplace or wood stove.  Christmas tree varieties, like pines and firs, have more flammable materials in them that can lead to a chimney fire.

McKelvey says, “It creates what’s called creosote, which lines the inside of a fireplace chimney, and creosote is extremely flammable.”

Instead, they say the tree should be removed from your home and kept outside, not in a garage, and as far away from buildings as possible until you’re able to dispose of it properly.

McKelvey says, “The good news is that there are a lot of simple steps you can take to really reduce those risks.”

We’ve heard from several cities and towns saying Christmas tree disposal will be available as part of trash pickup services this week or next week.  Dropoff options are also available in some locations.  Check with your city or town for details.

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