- Christmas trees will be allowed in churches after all.
A group of state lawmakers demanded today that the Department of Commerce clarify new state fire code provisions after at least two fire chiefs clashed on whether the regulations would ban Christmas trees in churches.
The agency complied this afternoon, telling the chiefs they can use their judgment and allow the trees in church as long as there are proper safeguards.
The dispute centered on the 2006 International Fire Code, which the Commerce Department adopted as state rule in March 2008.
The code contains provisions that both bar natural Christmas trees from areas of public assembly and allow fire departments to allow limited amounts of ``combustible vegetation'' wherever the fire department decides adequate safeguards are present.
Story By: Associated Press