State Fire Marshal Urges Ohioans to Remove Real Indoor Christmas Trees

Leaving dried-out trees indoors can increase fire risk

Columbus, Ohio ­­– With the holidays behind us, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) says now is the time for Ohioans to safely and responsibly discard any real Christmas trees that remain inside their homes.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately 36% of Christmas tree fires across the country occur during the month of January. SFM urges trees to be removed since these fires can grow rapidly, release a large amount of energy, and cause devastating damage in just a matter of seconds. Click here for a video from the NFPA demonstrating how quickly a Christmas tree fire can spread and how intensely it can burn.

“The longer that real Christmas trees stay inside homes, the higher the risk of fire becomes since it doesn’t take much at all to ignite a tree, especially one that’s been setting out for several weeks,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “Dried-out trees present a real fire danger because they burn fast and hot, which means if they catch fire, they will likely ignite anything and everything around them. That’s why we strongly urge Ohioans to start 2025 off being fire safe and avoid keeping old trees in their homes, garages, or even on porches.”

Ohioans should check with their local communities to explore how they can responsibly dispose of their trees, such as potential tree recycling and pickup/drop-off programs. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources reminds Ohioans that real Christmas trees can be repurposed as a habitat for various wildlife. Click here for more information.