National Fire Protection Association warns of Christmas tree hazards

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The holidays are over, but Christmas trees may still linger inside homes across the country.

The National Fire Protection Association said those trees are at risk of sparking house fires.

Officials said Christmas trees are responsible for an average of 150 structure fires annually.

Fires started by Christmas trees resulted in $14 million in property damage between 2017 and 2021.

Officials recommend using a community recycling program to safely dispose of Christmas trees.

Boy Scouts from Troop 8 in Lincoln are participating in their annual Scouting For Trees service.

Residents can leave their trees on their curb for Boy Scouts to collect.  The trees are turned into wood chips for city landscaping and community use.