Dry Christmas Tree Burns on Marathon Street

A Christmas tree at the curb outside 3630 Marathon Ave. in Silver Lake burst into flames just before 9 p.m. on Thursday.

The tree was tied to a telephone pole and, at one point, the flames began to rise up along side the pole.

They also briefly appeared to be ready to jump to a tree next to the three-story apartment complex across from Bellevue Park.

But firefighters from LAFD Station 6 on North Virgil Street arrived within five minutes and doused the tree and telephone pole.

One officer noted that the fire probably was set.

Erik Scott, an information officer for the LAFD, confirmed that firefighters get called to put out curbside fires like this in the month after Christmas.

Trees left outside become brittle and especially combustible.

He would not speculate whether the majority of these fires are set or happen for other reasons.

Scott recommended cutting up your Christmas tree and putting it in a green recycling bin to prevent such incidents.