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Lit with excitement and by the huge fire’s
light, hundreds of people stood in awe while the enormous pile of Christmas
trees went up in flames Jan. 9 at Old Mission Santa Inés
at the annual Solvang Christmas Tree Burn. Coordinated by the Santa Barbara
County Fire Department, before the big pile was lit, firemen used several
individual conifers to show the extreme flammability of just one cut tree.
The
safety demonstration showed how flocking increased fire danger, and through
comparison, the speed that a tree treated with retardant burns.
Excited
children ran circles around the fire as the flames subsided.
The almost full moon in the sky added to the enchantment
of the post-holiday inferno. The service allowed the public to dispose trees
safely as well as providing safety awareness and a spectacular sight to
witness.