A Christmas tree can bring joy, or devastation, depending on how you take care of it.

"Fire grows, doubles in size every 30 seconds," says Christopher Mehrman, Town of Brookhaven’s chief fire marshal. "It's instantaneous when a fire starts it's going to start spreading. then you have combustibles around it, the gifts, other furnishings."

Brookhaven fire officials show how easily a dried-out tree can catch fire.

"One-third of Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical shorts," said Mehrman.

The Brookhaven fire marshal says be sure to inspect your Christmas tree lights. Check if any wires are exposed or if anything is frayed. When in doubt, best practice is just pick up new ones.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 2018 and 2022, fire departments in the U.S. responded to an average of 155 house fires each year that were caused by Christmas trees.

Jane McChrie-Robins, of Stony Brook, and her husband, Dale, plan to celebrate their holiday safely.

"We always check the lights before we put them on, and we water it every day. so shouldn't be a problem,” said McChrie-Robins.

Another tip from fire officials: check for a "UL" or "ETL" safety certification mark on the box of lights.

The Brookhaven fire marshal says use extension cords as little as possible when plugging in Christmas tree lights, as some cords can get hot, especially when too many lights are plugged in together.