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The centerpiece in most people’s holiday decorations is the Christmas tree. Riverside Fire Chief Chad Smothers says live trees aren’t inherently dangerous, but when people use them in their homes , they must be carefully maintained or they may catch fire. He says, “The big hazard is if people don’t water them and they dry out. Obviously a dry tree is more likely to catch fire than one that’s properly maintained. Probably once a day it needs watered.” In addition to keeping trees watered, Smothers says it’s important to keep open flames, such as candles or fireplaces away from live trees. He also emphasizes people shouldn’t overload outlets with lights or other decorations that need plugged in, and to observe recommendations for how many lights can be safely strung together on a tree.