STOW, Mass. — State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey is urging all Massachusetts residents to dispose of their Christmas tree as soon as possible to avoid the potential for fire.
Ostroskey says fires caused by dry Christmas trees can spread very fast. “Start the new year off right: promptly dispose of your Christmas tree. A dried-out Christmas tree will ignite quickly and spread a fire very fast.”
Over the past few years, there have been several fires linked to dried out Christmas trees. In the first week of 2020, the Westfield Fire Department responded to a Christmas tree fire to a single-family home that caused damages of about $160,000 and the Belmont Fire Department responded to a Christmas tree fire that caused $2,500 worth of damage.
>> Fire safety tips for the holiday season
Here’s how you can properly dispose of your Christmas tree:
- Take advantage of community pick-up options
- Consider recycling programs
- Donate the tree to local goat farms
- Do not put your Christmas tree curbside until the day of pick up
- Never try to dispose of a Christmas tree in a fireplace
For more information on how to recycle or dispose of a Christmas tree in your town, click here.
>> Fire caused by Christmas tree causes heavy damage in Dorchester
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