While live Christmas trees can bring an aromatic and festive feel to your home, they can also turn into your worst nightmare if not treated properly.

Stuart Fire Department member Mike Kalbach says live Christmas trees should be watered daily, as dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against a property. Kalbach shares how long a live tree can last, “It all depends on how much you water it, that’s going to be up to you. Once the needles start falling off you need to get rid of it, then it’s going downhill and it could go up (in flames) a lot faster than you think. So as long as you keep it watered well they can last quite a long time. If you start missing the waterings, the needles start dropping off, (and) you’re not paying attention to that then you’re getting into the danger zone.”

Kalbach also recommends turning off Christmas tree lights before leaving your home or going to bed, and to replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. More than one of every four home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Bringing outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays can also prevent hazards and make them last longer.