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Mass. Fire Officials Urge Safe Christmas Tree Disposal

BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Massachusetts fire officials are urging residents to start the new year off right by properly disposing of Christmas trees.

State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan warns that Christmas trees can ignite quickly when they're all dried out. He says most trees have been up since after Thanksgiving and are usually dry and combustible by New Year's Day.

"A Christmas tree fire...(one) that occurs in a dried out Christmas tree is a very hot fire," Coan told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Art Cohen, "It's a very rapidly-spreading fire, and one that can cause damage and can cause injuries."

Coan highlighted a number of recent fires across Massachusetts sparked by dried out Christmas trees.

He encouraged residents to promptly take down their Christmas trees, which are traditionally kept up at least until Jan. 6, another significant holiday for Christians.

Coan recommends visiting the state Department of Environmental Protection website to find out which communities have Christmas tree recycling programs.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Art Cohen reports

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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