The signs of holiday season 1998 are popping up everywhere, even in the cold corridors of officialdom.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How steadfast are your branches!

A holiday memo was just sent out from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Gordon Aoyagi, fire administrator: For Immediate Release. The Maryland State Fire Marshal has established minimum requirements for the display of evergreen trees in public buildings. The following is an outline of those requirements.

Your boughs are green in summer's clime

And through the snows of wintertime

Cut trees must be only blue spruce, Scotch pine or Douglas fir and must be tagged by the tree grower. The tag must be approved by the State Fire Marshal and must have a serial number, species of tree, date of fresh cut, date by which tree MUST be placed in building and date tree MUST be removed.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How steadfast are your branches!

A fresh-cut tree is to be cut in the presence of the user or on the date on which the user is to obtain the tree. Immediately before placing a tree in a building, at least two (2) inches must be cut off the butt of the tree.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

What happiness befalls me

A tree stand with a minimum capacity of two (2) gallons must be used with a fresh-cut tree. Fresh-cut trees are limited to a maximum of ten (10) feet in height.

When oft at joyous Christmas time

Your form inspires my song and rhyme

Live trees in earth ball must be kept moist always. If the earth ball is dry, the tree may be ordered to be removed. The burlap covering the earth ball must be removed from the tree when it is brought into the building. All species of live trees are permitted.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

What happiness befalls me.

Pub Date: 11/25/98