Former Woodbury Fire Chief Bud Neal will lead off the annual public bonfire of Christmas trees Saturday Jan 17th at 6pm showing that a dry evergreen can flare into a hot, dangerous housefire at up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit within seconds. Immediately afterwards the Volunteer Fire Dept will ignite the pyre of discarded trees in front of department headquarters at 25 Quassuk Road with the corner of Route 6.

Each year the public fire-safety event draws about 150 spectators who enjoy the fire and refreshments in the firetruck bays afterwards. As always, townspeople can call Woodbury Boy Scout Troops 54 and 59 at 203 206 1942 to arrange pickup of discarded evergreens for a small donation. Townspeople can also leave trees directly on the pile, “but, please, not on the curb or in the parking lot,” says Fire Chief Morgan.

In previous years, the evergreen heaps were made up of more than 250 discarded trees. “It’s a great event,” says Fire Chief Morgan. “It takes care of litter, it promotes fire safety, and it brings us all together to enjoy the dramatic fire,” she said. She added that snow, rain, or a forecast of high winds can force a delay to the next day or later.

In the attached photo from last winter’s display, a Woodbury firefighter tosses still another tree onto the burning bonfire.