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FAQs and General Information

Why is moving firewood such a bad idea?
Tree-killing insects and diseases can lurk in firewood. These insects and diseases can't move far on their own, but when people move firewood they can jump hundreds of miles. New infestations destroy our forests, property values, and cost huge sums of money to control.

 

My firewood has no bugs, holes, burrows, sawdust, or other weird looking stuff on it. Is it OK to transport it?
Even the experts can't always see a couple of pin-head sized insect eggs, or a few microscopic fungus spores, in a pile of wood. These tiny threats are enough to destroy an entire ecosystem. Never assume wood that "looks safe" is OK to move- it is next to impossible for anyone to inspect firewood that closely.

 

If I burn all of my wood completely, is it OK to bring it from far away?
While this might seem reasonable. the answer is still that you should not be moving firewood. There are simply too many unknowns. What if a little chip of bark falls unnoticed onto the forest floor- and that chip contains invasive insect larvae? Or what if there is a sudden rainstorm, washing fungus spores off the wood, out of the back of your pickup, and into the grass? Even if you intend to burn all the wood completely, you still need to make sure it is local wood. The risks are simply too big.

 

Can I cut wood from my backyard if there are no quarantines or pest alerts in my area?
This is not a good idea. Pest infestations can take years to be recognized by the authorities- sometimes trees appear perfectly healthy despite harboring harmful organisms. By the time the tree looks sick, or the quarantine is announced, you could have spread the infestation to all your favorite campsites! Don't take this unnecessary chance. Buy the wood as close to where you burn it as possible.

 

Where can I find out about firewood information in my state?
This website has some links, although not a comprehensive list, for various states. Visit the Firewood Information page to see if we have info for your region. If not, we suggest you call your nearest National Forest office or county extension program to ask about firewood rules and regulations.

 

Can you recommend a firewood seller in my area?
We can't recommend any particular seller, but here are some helpful hints.

• Ask the seller where they got the wood. If it isn't nearby, or if they don't know where the wood is from, you should consider another firewood dealer.
• Find out if your state has a safe firewood certification process. If it does, ask to see the seller's certificate.

 

Why are non-native insects and diseases so much worse than the native ones?
Native trees have defenses against the insects and diseases that they've been living with for millions of years. Likewise, native predators eat native insects and that keeps their numbers in check. Non-native insects and diseases have no predators in their new homes, and the trees have no natural defenses against them.

Because these foreign bugs don't have anything stopping them, they reproduce really fast and become out of control, killing trees in their wake.