Continuing an annual tradition that increases its ability to look after folks in an emergency, Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department is gearing up to begin its Christmas tree sale.

In the parking lot at Fire Station 10 on Carrollton Boulevard, 200 Fraser firs will go on sale from Friday until they are sold out.

“We have been doing this for dozens of years,” volunteer firefighter Albert Burckard said. “In fact, so long that we are the regular place for a lot of people to buy their Christmas trees.”

Trees cost about twice as much as they do from many commercial Christmas tree lots, Burckard said, “but it’s a donation to the fire department,” and the entire price can be deducted from taxes.

North Carolina’s Great Fraser Fir Co. provides the trees, Burckard said. “We have been dealing with them for years,” he added.

“I know they have several customers up here, because when we unload that truck, they’ve already been somewhere else, and there’s at least one other delivery remaining.”

The sale starts 9 a.m. Friday and continues 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends.

Proceeds help purchase much-needed medical, rescue and firefighting supplies and equipment, Burckard said, such as LUCAS chest compression systems, ladders and hoses for trucks, and power stretchers for ambulances, which the department recently purchased two of for at least $14,000 each.

Fred Mitchell, station president, said the Christmas tree sale has become a popular family tradition where kids can see the fire engines and other equipment up close and talk to on-duty volunteers.

“You can support the volunteers and at the same time spend family time with the kids picking out the tree,” he said. “Kids come into the station, and we show them around.”

Trees are set so families can pick out the perfect specimen, Burckard said. “We open up that netting and let the tree fall out, and people pick their tree and make a donation,” he said.

He recommended folks get in fast, and said trees should be placed in a bucket of water.

“Ours are fresh-cut, so fresher than most trees you will find,” he said.

For more information, call 613-6183.