North Dakota winters can be a fearsome thing. We often drop below zero, the wind whips us and howls like a banshee, the snow tries to bury us, and the ice tries to slide us into telephone poles.

The best thing to do in North Dakota when it's cold outside is to... well, stay inside. Curl up by a warm fire and let the crackling of the firewood lull you into a nap. Don't sleep too long; you don't want to burn your house down.

Fires are a nice way to feel warm, cozy, and calm. There are very few things I enjoy more than sitting by a fire with a warm cup of coffee.

Before you light your fireplace up, you should keep in mind that there are a few things you shouldn't be throwing in your fireplace.

Things You Should Never Burn

Do Not Burn These 6 Things In Your Fireplace

If you plan on cozying up to a fire this winter, you might want to look this over.

Gallery Credit: Andi Ahne

This could be an endless list if I really wanted it to be, but I think I will stop here.

If you're unsure whether you should burn something in your fireplace, the answer is probably "no," so err on the side of caution and toss it in the recycling bin or trash instead.

Pat yourself on the back if you've managed to keep Usher's song, "Burn," out of your head while reading this. I was unsuccessful on that front.

Anyway, I hope this was helpful. Be safe and make careful decisions before throwing anything other than firewood in your fireplace.

Thanks for reading. TTFN!

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