Local News

Are you planning to get an early Christmas tree? Firefighters warn that cutting a tree now begins the countdown to having a very flammable tree in the living room before Christmas and the New Year.

According to Rural Metro Fire Department, even placing the tree in water doesn't keep it from eventually drying out.

A cut tree should be inside your home for no more than four weeks. If you cut your own tree, you will know how long it has been dying. If you get one off a tree lot, it has been dying for quite a while. So pick wisely.

Regardless of the amount of time a tree remains in your home, please use extreme caution with any ignition source. Keep tree and decorations away from wood stoves, heating devices, candles and curious pets. Use caution with tree lights, especially the strands that have been baking in your attic each summer.

Always have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to provide early detection of a fire and give you and your family a better chance of escape. Keep a charged fire extinguisher near the exit -- but not next to the tree -- to give you a fighting chance when the fire is small.

Firefighters appreciate seeing people get into the holiday spirit, but they want you to be smart and safe. When the time is right and you are ready to get a Christmas tree permit and view maps of the cutting areas, visit "bit.ly/RRSNFXmasTrees."