Source local firewood for any of your fall festivities

Wisconsinites and state visitors are urged to think twice, before giving invasive species or harmful hitchhikers a ride in their firewood this fall. Ahead of National Firewood Awareness Month in October, help prevent the spread of invasive pests and harmful insects, by making smart firewood choices.

Tree-killing hitchhikers often lurk on, or inside, firewood. These include the spongy moth, emerald ash borer, the fungus that causes oak wilt and many other invasive insects and fungi. Firewood choices are important and with good practice, they can help slow the spread of these tree-killing pests and diseases.

When untreated firewood is transported away from the tree where it was harvested, those pests and fungi can later emerge to attack trees at the new location. This can happen whether that new location is in the next town or hundreds of miles away.

This fall, the risk of spreading spongy moth on firewood remains high. Although infestation rates in 2024, were not as high as the record-setting summer of 2023, many areas in the state, still saw high caterpillar numbers. That means increased numbers of egg masses and an elevated risk of spreading those egg masses to less-infested areas, through firewood.

Wisconsin has laws to help prevent the movement of spongy moth, focusing on the risk posed by firewood.

A state spongy moth quarantine prohibits the movement of firewood and other products that can carry spongy moth eggs, to counties on, and near, Wisconsin’s western border or other states, where the pest is not established.

Uncertified firewood from more than 10 miles away, is prohibited from entering state parks, state forests or other DNR properties.

County, federal and private campgrounds may have similar firewood restrictions. If moving firewood to or through tribal properties in Wisconsin, contact the tribe and follow its policy on allowable firewood.

A good practice is to buy local, burn local. That means purchasing firewood for a camping trip on-site, instead of bringing it from home or picking it up along the way. It’s also strongly recommended that campers leave any unused firewood behind. It’s not worth bringing a pest home to infest property.

The same guidelines stand for those who use wood to heat their cabin or home. However, firewood that has been treatment-certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, is safe and legal to take anywhere in the state.

All staffed state parks and forests with campgrounds offer local firewood for sale, and firewood is often available for purchase, privately, nearby.

To find local firewood sellers and vendors of certified firewood, visit firewoodscout.org.