Palm Tree on Fire: Here's How to Prevent Your Palm Tree From Being a Fire Hazard

When it comes to braving the elements, fire's non-negotiably dangerous. Even more dangerous than a raging fire is what fuels it, and palm trees are a culprit. 

While palm trees have an unknown origin, one thing's clear—they're a historic emblem. They date back to the Mesopotamian era as a symbol of triumph. While all trees are fire fuel, palms are indeed triumphant when it comes to flame-starters. 

Since palm tree foliage, called fronds, don't fall once they're dead, they may as well be fire kindle. Here's how to prevent having a palm tree on fire.

I Need to Worry About My Palm Tree on Fire?

A palm tree's relationship to fire makes for a deceiving species. It's hard to understand how a tree that makes palm wine, dates, acai berries, palm oil, and coconuts can explode instantaneously. 

While palm trees make food, palm tree leaves were used in Aboriginal times to make ropes, hats, baskets, and other woven goods. Additionally, palm tree stems were used for construction, rugs, and structural projects. 

While all trees on fire are devastating casualties, a versatile and historic palm tree on fire cuts deep.

Palm trees are targets for fires for many reasons. Besides holding onto their dead palm tree leaves, they're found in tropical climates. Ranging from 50-200 feet tall, both palm trees and their natural environments create the perfect storm—literally.

If you live in the following states or areas, burning palm trees should be on your radar.

• Florida
• Texas
• Arkansas
• Oklahoma
• North Carolina
• California
• Hawaii
• Surrounding Gulf Coast regions

Many people see fires as the first attacker on nature and trees as casualties. While nature takes a painstaking hit from fires, trees are not only affected by them. They're contributors.

Palm Tree on Fire

It's less important to know the why behind trees on fire and more important to learn their likelihood of combustibility. Palm trees house dry climates and oil—any fire's dream.

Beyond wildfires, however, local palm trees are subject to fires from other causes too.

1. Palm trees brave 3 billion lightning strikes a year, giving cause for explosions
2. Palm trees that intercept power lines or electrical grids is a gateway to burning palm trees
3. Palm trees that aren't maintained correctly exacerbate fire risks
4. Fireworks during holidays create accidental fires, making palm trees on fire the greatest firework of all

Palm Tree Fire Prevention

Keeping your palm tree healthy is your best bet to living fire-free. Here are common ways to keep your palm tree happy.

1. Be aware of environmental changes by prepping for summer storms with proper cabling
2. Trim and prune them routinely
3. Keep them away from electrical systems
4. Keep soil healthy with nutrient-dense manure and proper aeration
5. Keep younger palms in shaded areas or near water

Is My Palm Tree Dead?

Oppositely, if you're wondering, "Is my palm tree dying? ", here's how to know.

1. Discolored leaves from green to brown
2. Leaf spots of various colors, including raised black blisters
3. Root diseases causing saggy, caved, or trunk deformities
4. Insects taking over
5. Nutritional and vitamin deficiencies
   • These may manifest as yellowed or orange spots or sand-colored soil
6. A felt-sense of decay or being beyond repair
7. Complex symptoms that can't be tracked to one area
8. Getting a second opinion

As is true with all plant life, housing a plant or tree is intuitive and personal. If you feel something's wrong, it likely is. Getting a professional second opinion can help you know for sure. 

You may not be able to repair your tree, but that doesn't mean it's beyond repair. 

Happy Palm Trees

The secret to happy, healthy palm trees is tending to them. As is true for much of life, knowledge is power. The more you know about a palm tree's relationship to fire, the more likely you are to salvage yours.

Because palm trees date back to Mesopotamian society, they're one of the most symbolic trees around. Their historical presence makes sense, given that an individual palm tree can last 80-100 years. That's a lot of stored wisdom.

Regardless of culture, palm trees represent abundance, fertility, longevity, life cycles, balance, and awakening. There's no better tree to mirror life than one known for its longevity as well as its immediate combustibility.

No one wants a burning palm tree, but if yours has, you're not alone. Finding what your palm tree means to you can deepen your relationship to it, and therefore keep the next one healthier in the long-run.

Healthy Palm Trees

Most expertise comes from two things—education and experience. Palm tree expertise requires an understanding of palm trees in relation to the tree family at large. Knowing a specific tree's temperament is what allows us to care for them while caring about them.

Greentopps.com is located in the home of the palm tree—Florida. Florida houses 12 native palm tree species, making us experts in keeping them flame-free.

There are tree experts and then there are palm tree experts. Why not go straight to those who know what your specific palm's saying?

Palm Tree Paradise

There's a way to soak up the sun sans worrying about your palm tree on fire. At the end of the day, palm trees are familiar with hot climates but still need periodic maintenance like any other living thing. 

Whether you're looking to plant, trim, prune, remove or preserve your palm tree, we've got you covered. Taking care of your palm trees is not only a labor of love, but it's a celebration of your geography.

Get a quote today to remember what it means to live in a palm tree paradise!