SARASOTA – With Christmas right around the corner the Sarasota Fire Department is reminding residents to be careful when leaving holiday decorations unattended.
The Sarasota Fire Department put on a demonstration to show how quickly a Christmas tree can catch on fire.
Officials are warning resident to not leave Christmas lights or other decorations on if you’re not home. According to the Sarasota County website more than half of December home decoration fires are started by candles and old Christmas lights.
“As you saw a moment ago the way that tree burned that’s inside a home and that will burn up everything in there and could be very deadly so we try to make sure people are aware of that, make sure that they know what to do, how to prevent that type of thing,” says Michael Regnier, Sarasota Fire Chief.
Regnier also says after the holiday season is over dead-dry Christmas trees should be disposed of properly by taking it out to the curve and waste management will pick it up.
