SHERWOOD, Ark. — We've officially hit the section between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a time when thoughts of turkey are behind us, and thoughts of gifts under the tree are in front of us.
As we get closer to the big day, fire officials in Central Arkansas hope you have another thought of safety, when it comes to your live Christmas tree.
"Definitely see a spike this time of year," Josh Clay, Deputy Fire Marshal with the Sherwood Fire Department, said. "Because of the winter months, but also because of the holiday factor."
Though cutting your own tree can be a holiday tradition, Clay explained how all too often people become a statistic. As your tree gets further from the day it was cut, it begins to dry out.
When that dryness gets too extreme, any sort of spark or heat could set that tree on fire.
"It is scary, just because of how quick it happens," Clay said. "Last year, there was roughly 200 Christmas tree fires across the United States."
That number seems low, but Clay said there's more to be done. That's why keeping a few simple things in mind can be life-saving.
"The basic care of it will probably keep you from ever having a Christmas tree emergency," he added.
Even something as basic as consistent watering of your tree can help— and it's a reminder shared by other departments.
"Once those needles start getting dried out, it makes it so much easier to catch fire," Chris Patton, Assistant Fire Marshal with NLRFD, said.
He explained how along with keeping your tree watered, checking your lights and distance to other things can be a huge help.
"Candles, you gotta keep that stuff three feet away from a tree," Patton said.
Back in Sherwood, Clay knows this is a yearly conversation, but that doesn't mean any of the recommendations are any less important.
"If it starts browning too much, the best thing to do would just be to go ahead and take it outside so you don't have that hazard in your home," he said.
If you haven't gotten your tree yet, Patton said that may be a good thing.
He shared that most live trees are only good for about four weeks, and there are actually five weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas when many people buy their trees.