Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services is reminding residents to take proper care if purchasing a real tree this Christmas season. It says Christmas tree fires are not common; however, when they do occur, are often very serious, as pictured in this video. 

Here are a few tips when buying a fresh tree:

- make sure it is bright green

- make sure it has a strong fragrance

- make sure that very few needles fall off when the stump is tapped on the ground

- make sure that the needles bend but do not break

- make sure that the resin on the stump is still sticky

To properly care for your tree:

- keep the tree stump immersed in water at all times, which is easiest to do if you have a stand that holds at least two to three litres of water.

- re-cut the stump if the water level goes below the stump, because if that happens, the stump will seal over with resin and the tree will no longer absorb water.

Where to place your tree:

- at least three feet away from a fireplace, heat register, or television

- NOT in front of an exit

To properly discard your tree:

- visit the City of Saskatoon's website and look under "C" for Christmas Trees

- if your tree dries out before Christmas, remove it from your house immediately and recylce it

- do not store a dead tree inside your house, garage, or leaving against the outside of your house