Local News in Brief : Countywide : Christmas Trees to Be Burned at 5 Locations

The Orange County Fire Department will burn Christmas trees at five locations after the New Year to increase public awareness of home fire safety and to alleviate the fire hazard in homes caused by dry trees.

Residents are encouraged to bring their trees to the locations for disposal. Some of the sites will feature demonstrations of residential sprinkler systems.

“Residential sprinklers have proven both cost effective and 96% successful in extinguishing fires,” Fire Department spokesman Hank Raymond said. “The average cost of a residential sprinkler system (is) around $1.50 per square foot of residence.”

The tree burns will be held on the following dates at these locations:

- 5 p.m. Monday at Tomas Street and Aventura Lane in Rancho Santa Margarita.

- 7 p.m. Monday at Alton Parkway at East Yale Loop in Irvine.

- 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at the end of La Novia Street west of San Juan Creek Road in San Juan Capistrano.

- 6 p.m. Jan. 7 at Edinger and Harvard avenues in Tustin.

- 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at Yorba Linda Boulevard at Valley View Street in Yorba Linda.

For more information on the dates and times trees will be accepted at these locations, call (714) 744-0496.