Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Fire chiefs in Wisconsin wouldn’t be allowed to ban natural Christmas trees in places like churches and the state Capitol under a bill currently being circulated by a pair of Republican lawmakers.
Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) and Sen. Stephen Nass (R-Whitewater) said Tuesday in a memo seeking co-sponsors that some smaller communities in the state have imposed blanket bans on natural Christmas trees in “places of assembly,” particularly in churches.
The state’s current fire code leaves the final decision to allow or prohibit natural trees in churches and other gathering places to the discretion of the local fire authority. Kremer said the bill being circulated would instead create a presumption that a tree is safe until proven otherwise.
“Under this bill, communities couldn’t just do a flat-out ban and prohibit a Christmas tree in a church,” Kremer told the Journal Sentinel.
He said the issue dates back to 2008, when Wisconsin updated its fire code to conform to federal fire safety standards. The move raised questions about whether the new code meant natural trees would be prohibited in churches, hotels, and other places that people gather.
At the time, then-Gov. Jim Doyle promised, “In churches, you can have Christmas trees.”
Kremer said that the legislation would still allow local fire officials to decide specific trees are fire hazards, but would prevent blanket bans from being enforced.
Chuck Ruetten, fire marshal with the Jackson Fire Department, said he has told all of the churches in his jurisdiction that they can’t have natural Christmas trees because of the “inherent danger.”
“It’s amazing how fast they burn,” Ruetten said. “You’re talking not just the fire hazard, but the panic. People running, trying to get out.”
He added that churches tend to be fuller during the holidays because some people only go during that time of year, meaning a tree fire inside could quickly put people at risk.
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