Saying goodbye to one's Christmas tree may not be easy, but the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encourages people to remove Christmas trees from their homes promptly after the holiday season. The NFPA notes that the longer a natural tree is kept up after Christmas, the more likely it is to dry out and ignite.

The U.S. Forest Service advises people not to dispose of their Christmas trees by burning them in a fireplace or wood stove because of the large amount of flammable turpentine oils in evergreen trees. Burning the tree may encourage the buildup of creosote and increase the risk of having a chimney fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

To safely dispose of a Christmas tree, the NFPA recommends using the local community's recycling program, if possible; trees should not be put in the garage or left outside. The association also offers several tips for safely removing lighting and decorations and storing them properly to ensure that they are in good condition the following season.

When unplugging electrical decorations, people should use the gripping area on the plug. They should never pull the cord to unplug any device from an electrical outlet, as this can harm the wire and insulation of the cord, increasing the risk for shock or electrical fire.

As people pack up light strings, they should inspect each line for damage, throwing out any sets that have loose connections, broken sockets or cracked or bare wires. Each set of lights should be wrapped and put in a plastic bag or wrapped around a piece of cardboard.

Adults should store electrical decorations in a dry place away from children and pets where they will not be damaged by water or dampness.

For more information on winter home fire safety, readers may visit http://www.nfpa.org, click on "Public Education," select "Seasonal fire causes," click the plus sign beside "Seasonal fire causes" and choose "Put a Freeze on Winter Fires." This resource is part of a winter safety campaign the NFPA promotes annually with the U.S. Fire Administration.