Christmas trees for sale won’t be as plentiful as in past years due to the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire that destroyed thousands of acres in New Mexico.

“I know they’re having a hard time getting trees because they’re so scarce. Fabby Romero, a Mora Christmas Trees owner, told KRQE. “The fire took out about 4,000 acres from Mora County and San Miguel County and that’s a big loss for our state.”

Romero’s Mora Christmas trees are located near Osuna and Fourth Street. It has been a family business since her father began it in 1986. She said it has been harder than ever to find mature trees after the fires this summer. Normally, her business purchases about 400 trees. They’re down to about half that amount.

Inflation has also had an impact, increasing the prices for rent space and fuel costs. What keeps them going is the spirit of the holiday season.

“Making people happy, that’s what it means to us,” Romero said. “And it makes us happy to see people happy.”

One loyal customer appreciates the tradition of purchasing a tree. “It means a lot, it means a lot for my kids,” Harrison Joe said. “I can’t really describe what it means. It means a lot to me. I just want my kids to be happy and my family to be happy and have a good Christmas.”

The Bureau of Land Management began personal Christmas tree permit sales, allowing people to cut their own trees from public lands.

Permits are available through the BLM office through Dec. 24th and cost five dollars per tree.