Tonto National Forest Cancels Christmas Tree Burning Event Over Safety Concerns

By Scott Bourque
Published: Monday, December 28, 2020 - 11:05pm
Updated: Tuesday, December 29, 2020 - 8:13am

The annual Christmas Tree Burning event in the Tonto National Forest has been canceled this year due to safety concerns.

Last year, more than 8,000 people brought their Christmas trees to be burned in the Lower Sycamore Recreation area.

Officials at the Tonto National Forest decided that this year, the event can’t happen. The area is more prone to flooding as a result of the Bush Fire, which burned almost 200,000 acres in June and July. The Forest Service says it could be months before the area can handle crowds again. 

There’s also not enough space there for crowds to safely practice social distancing, and the Forest Service requires permits for events with more than 75 people. 

Cities around the Valley are offering residents different options for disposing of their Christmas trees, ranging from curbside pickup to free mulching.

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