Duane Hicks
Local residents can plan to put their Christmas trees out on the curb later this week as the Fort Frances Fire Brigade will hold its annual pick-up this Saturday (Jan. 10).
As in the past, the tree pick-up is being held on the first Saturday following Ukrainian Christmas, which this year falls on Wednesday.
The tree pick-up—a tradition started here years ago by the now-defunct Jaycees—is not only a community service of sorts, but also a fire safety measure.
“We encourage residents, once they’re done with the trees and Ukrainian Christmas is over, to get them outdoors before they get too dry and pose a greater fire hazard,” local fire safety specialist Wayne Riches said this morning.
“Of course, they do pose a fire hazard regardless, but as they dry and the moisture leaves the tree, there’s that much more potential,” he warned.
While members of the brigade actually do the pick-up, which usually starts around 2 p.m., a number of local businesses lend trucks, trailers, and other equipment to make the transportation and destruction of the trees possible.
The trees are shredded and taken to the local landfill. This year, the trees will be chipped by Daryl Eyolfson of Daryl’s Custom Landscapes Ltd.
Residents are urged to make sure their Christmas trees are easily identifiable. If they are wrapped in plastic, for instance, make sure you rip part of the covering open so the tree inside can be seen.
If you’ve already put yours out and it was buried in snow over the weekend, or if you put it this week and there’s any further heavy snowfall between now and Saturday, dig it out to make sure the tree is at least partially visible in the snow bank.
Once again, residents who have their trees picked up are encouraged to give a donation to the fire department, either by giving it to firefighters doing the collecting, leaving it in their mail box, or dropping it off at the fire hall.
The fire department is asking people not to attach donations directly to the trees, as some residents have done in the past, because they may not be seen and then accidentally disposed with the tree.
Proceeds will go to a local charitable cause, which has not yet been determined. In the past, they have included the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, “David’s Deli,” the “Risk Watch” fire safety program, and the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau’s community Christmas dinner.
Any questions? Call 274-9841.
