Not to be a grinch, but get rid of your Christmas tree now, as fire risk grows in January

You may want to hang onto the feeling of Christmas cheer as long as possible, but keeping your live Christmas tree around could lead to disaster, experts say.

More than a third (34%) of Christmas tree fires happen in January, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

More: Donate your Christmas tree to these NJ county parks

As live trees dry out, the risk of fire increases, so keeping your tree longer can leave you more at risk, according to Erie Insurance.

While Christmas tree fires are rare, they tend to be serious, the NFPA says.

That makes it important to dispose of trees quickly instead of leaving them in a garage or outside against your home.

In addition to curbside pickup in many towns, some areas also offer donation programs for Christmas trees, where they are repurposed into usable natural materials. For instance, Ocean County Parks offers a multitude of drop-off points for trees. From there, they will be turned into mulch and other park materials.

January is also a prime time for candle fires, according to the NFPA, with 11 percent of all fires occurring in the month, matching December as the most dangerous time. One-third of home decoration fires are started by candles overall.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Christmas tree fire risk grows in January