Christmas Tree Disposal

Christmas has come and gone once again, and many of us have started to take down or have already taken down our holiday décor. We know taking everything down and storing it away is not as much fun as putting it up, but the takedown plays a significant role in preventing fire hazards.

If you have not already disposed of your Christmas tree, we recommend you dispose of it sooner rather than later. Not only are the fallen pine needles multiplying daily, but the tree is also drying out, making it easier to ignite. Christmas trees become increasingly flammable as they continue to dry out in your home. Although Christmas tree fires are not very common, it is more probable for them to become severe when they do transpire.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”), 37% of the reported home Christmas tree fires from 2011 until 2015 occurred in January. Our lovely natural Christmas trees are combustible and pose a bigger threat than artificial trees. The NFPA reports, “Fires involving natural trees outnumber fires involving artificial trees by about 3 to 1, and the ratios are even higher for associated losses: 20 to 1 civilian injuries and 5 to 1 for direct property damage.”

Therefore, we suggest contacting your local municipality to find out their protocol(s) for tree disposal. They may pick up trees curbside or have recycling centers available. You should not leave the tree in the house or garage. Moreover, we urge you to never burn the tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Firs and pines have a lot of sap and, therefore, could explode. Additionally, the needles burn both rapidly and intensely, making it possible for flames to flare up out of control. The tree could also ignite creosote deposits in the chimney and cause a fire in the chimney.