Many Vaudreuil-Soulanges residents opt for a natural Christmas tree when it comes to brightening up their homes in December. While it's a good choice from an eco-responsible point of view, as well as smelling nice, it's important to know how to look after it properly to avoid accidental fires. 

On this subject, Néomédia turned to Alexandre Côté, preventionist with the Service de sécurité incendie de Saint-Zotique, for a few prevention tips. 

Firstly, people who choose this type of tree should cut it into bevels when installing it. Once it's in place, they need to make sure it's always moist. "You have to water it every day to prevent it from drying out, because that's where the risk of fire is greatest. You also need to position the tree at least one metre away from any source of heat, such as electric baseboards," he explains. 

He also recommends turning off the lights when you leave the room, as incandescent bulbs give off a lot of heat. 

When should we say goodbye to our tree after the holidays? "I'd say fairly quickly, either around December 26 or when the branches have dried out. Leave it outside, away from any source of heat," he concludes.