Don’t Put That Christmas Tree in the Fireplace

As we move into the 2013 and the Holiday season wraps up, many face the question of what to do with this year’s Christmas tree.

One thing that should not be done with this year’s Christmas tree; however, is to burn it in your fireplace.

Kansas State University Extension Forester Charles Barden explained why.

“Fresh evergreens, conifers, pines, spruces and firs have a lot of pitch in the wood,” said Barden. “They can cause some fireworks when they’re burning in the fireplace and throw sparks across the room, even a burning ember, when they have these little explosions due to those pitch pockets. It can be a fire hazard.”

Those embers can also shoot up the chimney and land on yours or someone else’s roof.

One viable option is to save the wood from the Christmas tree until next year so that the wood is dried out completely, and then burn it in the fireplace.

Another option to take this year’s Christmas tree to any Rabun County Recycling Center.