Paper money is commonly burnt for the spirits as a direct expression of respect, but old trees are at risk of perishing in the flames themselves, especially during dry weather, with their hollows and their sap. Earlier this year some thousand- year-old sacred trees in Puli went up in smoke, possibly ignited by joss sticks.
燒化冥紙，是人們對神表達崇敬最直接的方式。但「因為空洞化及樹中含有精油，老樹很容易在乾燥天氣中起火」，台灣省林務局森林育樂組保育科技士邱健表示，今年初埔里神木村千年神木的大火，便可能是香燭引起。