By Lookout Staff

January 8, 2015 -- A fire that left a Santa Monica man with second-degree burns when he tried to throw a burning Christmas tree out his apartment window was caused by the tree being too dry and a possible short in the decorative lights, Fire Chief Scott Ferguson said Wednesday.

 “It appears the fire was caused by several factors, including a dry, non-watered Christmas tree and a possible short in the string of decorative lights,” Ferguson said in a statement.

Firefighters were called to a residential and commercial building at Ninth Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday as the man tried to throw a burning Christmas tree out the window of his second-story apartment.

The man was treated at the scene for second-degree burns and transported to a local hospital, the statement said. No firefighters were injured. The fire was knocked down at 4:07 pm. A total of 4 engine companies, a truck company, Battalion Chief and Fire Investigators were at the scene.

Ferguson said the fire was a reminder to residents that dry Christmas trees are hazardous and must be removed from inside the house. He also said residents should never try to extinguish a fire themselves, but see to the safety of others in the building, call 911 and evacuate the structure immediately.

He said sprinklers controlled the fire until firefighters arrived.