What You Should Never Burn in Your Fireplace—and What It Can Cost You

A fireplace is not a convenient way to dispose of gift packaging, old decorations or leftover building materials. Something that catches fire easily is not necessarily suitable fireplace fuel.

Never burn wrapping paper, cardboard, plastic packaging, Christmas trees, painted or pressure-treated wood, or glued wood products in a wood-burning fireplace. Use the fuel permitted for your fireplace or appliance, and keep combustible decorations away from heat.

These mistakes can create different problems: sudden flare-ups, airborne embers, harmful emissions, deposits or damage. The right next step depends on what happened—not simply on whether the fire has gone out.

What Should You Never Burn in a Fireplace?

This guide primarily covers wood-burning fireplaces. Do not add wood, paper or other solid fuel to a gas fireplace, and never light a real fire inside an electric fireplace. Follow the instructions for the installed appliance.

MaterialWhy it does not belongWhat to do insteadWrapping paper, ribbons and gift packagingWrappings can ignite suddenly; plastic packaging adds further hazards.Sort for recycling or disposal under local rules.Christmas trees, wreaths and evergreen branchesDry greenery can flare rapidly and throw sparks.Use a local tree collection or yard-waste program.Painted, coated or pressure-treated woodBurning it can release harmful substances.Use the appropriate local waste-disposal route.Plywood, particleboard and glued wood productsThese contain materials other than natural firewood.Keep renovation scraps out of the fireplace.Cardboard, junk mail and glossy printPaper waste is not a substitute for approved fuel and may produce airborne burning debris or unwanted residues.Recycle eligible materials.Wet or green firewoodMoisture interferes with combustion and can encourage creosote buildup.Let suitable firewood dry before use.

The EPA’s archived wood-burning guidance identifies household waste, treated wood and glued wood products among materials that should not be burned. That guidance is a useful reference; your appliance instructions still determine its permitted fuel.

Wrapping Paper and Gift Packaging

Do not burn wrapping paper—even as a quick way to clear up after opening presents.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that gift wrap can ignite suddenly and burn intensely enough to cause a flash fire. Its holiday fireplace guidance specifically advises against burning it.

A fireplace screen does not make unsuitable fuel acceptable. Keep ribbons, bows, plastic inserts and foam packaging out as well.

Before lighting the fireplace, move the gift-opening cleanup away from the hearth. A bag of discarded wrapping beside the fire creates another combustible load even if nobody intends to burn it.

Christmas Trees and Evergreen Branches

Do not burn a Christmas tree, wreath or bundle of evergreen branches in your fireplace.

Dry needles and small branches can burn rapidly. CPSC’s holiday decoration safety guidance explains that burning dry greenery can produce uncontrolled flames and sparks, including sparks capable of igniting existing chimney deposits.

Cutting a tree into smaller pieces does not turn holiday cleanup into an appropriate fireplace-fuel practice. Use your community’s tree-recycling or collection service.

The issue here is the tree and decorative greenery being discarded—not a claim that every properly prepared softwood log is prohibited in every wood-burning appliance. Fuel suitability depends on the appliance instructions, preparation and condition.

Treated, Painted and Glued Wood

Old decking, painted trim and furniture scraps should not become firewood.

A piece of wood may contain preservatives, coatings or adhesives that are not obvious from its surface. Plywood and particleboard are also different from natural cordwood.

Appliance restrictions matter here. For example, Regency’s published F5200 instructions prohibit treated wood, colored paper, garbage and several other materials, and explain that unsuitable fuel can damage the catalytic combustor. That is a model-specific example of why “it burns” is not enough to establish compatibility.

If you cannot establish what a scrap is made of or what it has been exposed to, leave it out. Buy identifiable firewood suitable for the appliance.

Cardboard, Junk Mail and Glossy Print

Do not use your fireplace to burn delivery boxes, stacks of mail or magazines.

Cardboard and loose paper can create soot and airborne char or ash. In some appliances, those residues can interfere with internal components. Manufacturer restrictions may explicitly prohibit these materials.

There is a distinction between disposing of paper waste and using a small amount of plain newspaper to start a fire where the appliance instructions permit it. The EPA includes newspaper among fire-starting options; that does not extend to glossy print, gift wrap or piles of packaging.

Use the starting method specified for your fireplace. Never substitute gasoline, kerosene or charcoal lighter fluid.

Wet Wood, Smoldering Fires and Creosote

Creosote is a combustible deposit formed as wood-burning byproducts collect inside the chimney. It can develop during ordinary wood burning; burning trash is not a prerequisite.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America identifies unseasoned wood, restricted air supply and cooler chimney temperatures as conditions that encourage buildup.

Use dry, suitable firewood and operate the fireplace as instructed. Do not deliberately create an oversized fire to “burn the chimney clean.”

Where deposits require removal, professional chimney cleaning addresses the buildup. An inspection establishes whether there are other issues that cleaning alone will not resolve.

If you use the fireplace throughout the heating season, read our guide to chimney maintenance when burning wood all winter. Your actual usage and inspection findings matter more than a calendar reminder alone.

How Far Should Decorations and Stockings Stay from the Fireplace?

Remove hanging stockings and combustible garlands from around the fireplace before using it.

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends keeping combustible items at least 3 feet from heat sources, including fireplaces. This is general household fire-prevention guidance—not a universal mantel installation clearance or a model-specific measurement from the firebox.

Follow your fireplace’s installation and operating instructions as well. A compliant mantel does not automatically make fabric hanging from it safe.

Keep gift bags, baskets, furniture and the Christmas tree outside the heat-exposure area. Do not drape decorations across screens, doors or vents.

Heat remains a concern after shutdown. Heat & Glo’s fireplace safety guidance notes that glass and surrounding metal remain hot during cooldown. Leave decorations away until the fireplace has cooled.

The Chimney Hasn’t Been Swept This Year—Can We Still Light It on Christmas Eve?

A missed sweeping date alone cannot establish whether the fireplace is safe. An overdue inspection or unknown maintenance history is a reason to arrange an assessment before use.

Inspection and cleaning answer different questions. Inspection evaluates condition; cleaning removes deposits and debris.

CSIA’s homeowner guidance describes annual inspection, with cleaning and repairs performed when needed. If a recent inspection found no cleaning necessary, that is different from using an unassessed chimney simply because the firebox looks tidy.

If the inspection is overdue, the history is unknown or anything has changed, arrange a chimney inspection before lighting another fire. If that cannot happen before the gathering, leave the fireplace unlit.

You can review Brown Chimney’s chimney inspection pricing and calculator when planning the visit. A price estimate does not establish that the chimney is ready for use.

What Can Burning the Wrong Material Cost You?

There is no reliable dollar amount for “one box burned” or “one season of poor fuel.” The consequences depend on the material, the appliance, existing deposits and whether damage occurred.

FindingWhat may be neededDeposits or debris requiring removalCleaning appropriate to the system and material presentHeavy or glazed creosoteA separate assessment of the removal method and scopeSuspected overheating or chimney fireInspection before further use, with repairs if damage is foundDamaged appliance components or liningA repair recommendation based on the actual defect

For budgeting, review how buildup affects chimney-cleaning costs. Brown Chimney’s pricing page distinguishes routine cleaning from separately quoted heavy-buildup work. It is not a damage estimate for a particular burning incident.

Ask for findings that explain the proposed work. Burning an unsuitable item does not, by itself, prove that the whole chimney needs rebuilding.

Already Burned Something You Shouldn’t Have?

Stop adding unsuitable material. Do not try to correct the mistake by building a hotter fire.

If you suspect an active chimney fire, get everyone outside and call 911. Warning signs can include a loud roaring or rumbling sound, dense smoke, or flames from the chimney. A carbon monoxide alarm also requires immediate evacuation and emergency assistance.

After a suspected chimney fire, do not reuse the system until a qualified professional has evaluated it and any necessary work is complete. CSIA’s post-fire guidance explains that damage may be hidden from ordinary views into the fireplace.

For a past incident without an active emergency, tell the professional what was burned, approximately how much, and whether you noticed unusual heat, smoke or noise.

If cleaning is recommended, our guide to what happens during a chimney cleaning explains the process.

What Should You Burn Instead?

Use clean, dry, untreated firewood approved for your fireplace or appliance. EPA guidance recommends wood with moisture content below 20 percent. Follow the appliance’s instructions for fuel quantity, fire starting and operation.

Manufactured firelogs are not interchangeable across all fireplaces, inserts and stoves. Check both the firelog packaging and the appliance manual before use.

Keep working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in place, and never leave a fire unattended. Good fuel selection supports safe operation; it does not replace inspection and maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Burn Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace?

No. Wrapping paper can ignite suddenly and burn intensely. Dispose of it through appropriate recycling or waste collection rather than using it as fireplace fuel.

Can You Burn a Christmas Tree or Evergreen Branches?

No. Dry holiday greenery can flare rapidly and throw sparks. Use a local tree-recycling or yard-waste collection program instead.

Can Stockings Stay on the Mantel While the Fireplace Is On?

Remove hanging stockings and other combustible decorations before use. Follow the fireplace manufacturer’s instructions and keep combustible items away during operation and cooldown.

Can We Use the Fireplace If the Chimney Hasn’t Been Cleaned This Year?

That cannot be determined from the last cleaning date alone. If the annual inspection is overdue or the chimney’s condition is unknown, have it assessed before use. A recent inspection may establish that cleaning is not yet needed.

Make the Next Fire a Planned One

Before your next fire, check the fuel, clear the surrounding area and confirm that the fireplace’s inspection and maintenance are up to date.

If you are unsure about the chimney’s condition, ask Brown Chimney to assess it before use. Explain what you have been burning and any changes you have noticed so the recommended work addresses the actual findings.