Tips from the Housing Office include using artificial trees over fresh-cut ones, and if a fresh-cut tree is used, to keep it watered continually and away from heaters.

“[Dry trees] go like a roman a candle, the fire spreads extremely fast,” said Ryan Rasmussen, the BYU-Idaho Fire Specialist. “After you bring your tree home, cut two to three inches off of the bottom. Make sure that the bottom of the tree never comes out of the water.”

On average, 310 Christmas tree fires were reported per year between the years of 1999 and 2002, according to the NFPA. Nationally the fires are responsible for more than 16.2 million dollars per year in direct property damage.

“Typically we will see one or two [Christmas tree fires in Rexburg] in the holiday season,” said Spencer Larson, Rexburg fire chief. “The more severe ones we have seen in the past years involved candles. We discourage candles anywhere in the house. We’ve seen too many fires with them.”

Most Christmas tree related fires occur within the week of December 22 to the 28 and the Housing Office is trying to protect against the trends in that week.

Before apartments are vacated during Christmas vacation, all Christmas decorations and trees need to be taken down, according to the Housing Office’s policies on decorations.

“It’s something you have to be smart about,” Larson said. “Most of it is common sense.”

Specific rules and policies are in place for each building.