Long Island Officials Offer Tips On Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Christmas trees can warm the hearts of even the sourest of Scrooges.

A demonstration today on Long Island showed how fast the holiday fun can turn dangerous, or even deadly.

WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs spoke with Nassau County firefighters, who showed that it can take less than a minute for a Christmas tree to explode into flames and fill an entire room with fire.

Officials advised that candles left unattended or placed on a mantle with decorations around them can quickly lead to dangerous conditions.

"It's a tragedy waiting to happen, it really is," said Chief John Murray.

Veteran firefighter Paul Wilder's mother's Setauket home was destroyed by a Christmas tree fire two years ago.

He tells CBS2 the fire that destroyed the home was started by the family cat chewing on the tree light wires.

And it's not only the fire that can be deadly.

"In smoke, there's carbon monoxide," said Murray. "That's the silent killer."

CBS2's Tony Aiello reports that the first thing shoppers should do when looking for a live tree is to shake the branches to check if the needles are drying out. That's considered a red flag.

When decorating, use LED lights that don't generate any heat.

Experts stress it's important to keep your tree hydrated and away from sparks or flames.

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