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TUCSON-For many people picking out a perfect Christmas tree is a favorite part of the holiday, but there are some safety tips to make sure a mishap doesn't spoil your holiday season.

Because dry trees are such a fire hazard, you'll need to take a close look at the tree's needles before you buy it.

When a tree is already dry, the branch cracks when you try to bend it and needles shed into your hand.

On a fresh tree, it's easy to bend the branches without it cracking and there is minimal shedding when you swipe your hand across it.

Adam Goldberg with Northwest Fire said it's important to make sure you choose a fresh tree and keep it hydrated.

"Our temperatures are still very warm for the season," said Goldberg. "We are running 10 to 12 degrees above normal, so that means our trees are going to dry out faster and we talk every year about making sure trees have enough water. Keep an eye on them making sure you're checking for dryness, and if it becomes too dry or too brittle, it's too much of a fire hazard and needs to be replaced or taken out of the house if Christmas has passed."

A fresh tree lasts up to three weeks, no longer than four.