Now that the holiday rush is over, the Escalon Fire Department is gearing up for its annual Christmas tree pick-up program.

The department provides the service typically the Saturday after New Year and this year, the plan is to collect the trees on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Fire officials said residents should place the Christmas trees curbside outside their homes for pick-up by the firefighters. Tree stands, holiday ornaments and decorations and tinsel should all be removed before putting the tree out for pick-up and recycling.

“They can put them out now,” said firefighter Moe Silva, noting that firefighters might have time to do a couple of sweeps through the community before the formal Jan. 4 pick-up and can collect trees then as well.

“We also want to than Lionudakis Firewood, we take them there and they chip the trees up for us,” Silva said of the local firm.

For those that want to have their tree picked up on Saturday, Jan. 4, place them curbside the night before.