TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - The State Fire Marshal’s office is reminding Floridians to get old and dry Christmas Trees out of their homes in a timely manner this week.
At this point, many Christmas trees have been up for more than a month, and they are completely dead.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas tree fires cause $17 million worth of property damage annually, while causing several deaths.
Christmas tree fires are among the most deadly types of household fires, as the trees are usually located near the main entrance to a home, making it more difficult to escape.
State Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who doubles as the state fire marshal, says anyone heading out of town for New Year’s should throw away the Christmas tree before they leave.
“A dry Christmas tree creates a robust fire. So, again, if you are going to leave for the holidays or leave for New Year’s to somewhere else, you need to get that Christmas tree out of your household," said Patronis. "It’s too dangerous of a fire hazard to have in your house after the holidays are over, especially if nobody is going to be there to monitor it.”
Patronis says the speed with which a Christmas tree fire takes off and the heat it creates is nearly unmatched. Many communities across the state offer Christmas tree recycling and disposal programs.
