Dry Weather Is No Friend to Christmas Trees, Experts Warn : Holidays: Dehydrated branches are intensely flammable. Daily watering and safety inspections are recommended.

As this weekend, the biggest for Christmas tree sales, begins, fire officials warn that the unseasonably dry weather has heightened the fire hazard, particularly for homes with children.

“Everyone’s on their normal time frame except the weather,” said Dan Young, Orange County Fire Authority captain.

“People cut all these trees 10 days ago, and we’re running 17% humidity. And there are Santa Ana winds coming,” Young said. “These things are going to be dry before Christmas.”

Fire officials and Christmas tree industry representatives urged people to follow some simple suggestions to keep their trees moist and safe in the coming weeks.

Tree owners should cut a half-inch to two inches off the stem using a saw--not a hatchet or an ax, which won’t properly open the tree’s pores. The cut will eliminate a sap seal that prevents the tree from absorbing water. The seal will form again in four to six hours if the water level drops too low.

According to the National Christmas Tree Assn., a tree can absorb as much as a gallon of water in the first 24 hours and more than a quart daily after that. Water keeps the needles from drying and the boughs from drooping.

“Caring for your real tree is easy,” association president Bob Scott said in a statement. “The most important thing to remember is that real trees need water daily. Never let your tree stand go dry.”

People should also keep wrapping paper and all heat sources, including televisions and radiators, away from the tree; check all light cords and electrical connections before hanging tree lights, and never decorate trees with outdoor Christmas lights, because they generate heat.

Large trees should be fastened to the ceiling or walls with thin guy wires.

Hazards include electrical cords with cracked insulation, frayed or bare wires and empty light sockets. And tree lights should be unplugged when people are sleeping or not at home.

“That Christmas tree is so flammable,” Young warned. “Once the tree ignites, it’ll be completely engulfed in flames in three to five seconds, and that’s hard for most people to grasp.

“All the pieces are very small, and they’re separated and they’re surrounded by air. That’s exactly how I would design it if I wanted it to burn,” he said. “If it ignites, you lose the tree, and the whole house can be going. We’ll have several of those this year, unfortunately.”

Orange County Fire Authority spokeswoman Emmy Day said some recent Christmas tree tragedies include a fire that caused $100,000 in damage. It was ignited when someone dragged the tree across the floor in front of a lit fireplace. Another fire caused $250,000 in damage when a family tried to dispose of their tree by burning it in the fireplace.

And yet another blaze sparked by malfunctioning tree lights injured four people, Day said.

Young said children can be a particular fire problem at Christmastime at the homes of relatives whose houses have not been child-proofed.

When choosing a tree, look for needles that are green and hard to pull from branches. Fresh needles will not break when bent, and the trunk of a fresh tree is sticky with resin. A shower of falling needles when the trunk is bounced on the ground indicates that the tree is too dry.

Before decorating a tree, store it away from heat and wind in a sheltered area such as a porch or garage. Get rid of it promptly after the holidays.

“Nobody’s going to get rid of their tree before Christmas, but it’s going to be very close,” Young said. “They should never be left after New Year’s Day.”