Remember to get your firewood where you burn it
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MADISON – State forest health specialists remind campers and travelers that firewood can carry harmful forest insects and diseases. “Insect pests such as emerald ash borer and gypsy moth, and diseases like oak wilt and Dutch elm disease spread to new areas easily while hidden in firewood,” said Colleen Robinson Klug, DNR forest health educator. “These invasive species have already killed millions of trees in Wisconsin.”
All travelers should follow quarantine rules, which can be found on the DNR website, to help protect Wisconsin’s trees and avoid fines.
Second homeowners are advised not to move firewood long distances between their properties, to reduce the risk to their trees.
The only exception is firewood Certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Certified wood is free to move around the state because it is also free of invasive pests and diseases that harm our trees. Certified wood will either have a label like the one in the photo, or will just have the DATCP certified vendor number. A list of certified dealers and their ID numbers is available online at emeraldashborer.wi.gov under “Firewood Regulations”.
Firewood regulations tighten as of June 1, 2014
The invasive species threat to public land we all share in Wisconsin is increasing. To help protect these areas better, as of June 1 firewood will only be allowed on state managed properties if it is:
• from within 10 miles of the property, AND
• from outside an area quarantined for emerald ash borer, (unless the property is also in the same or a connected quarantined area) OR
• certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (see link above) or certified by the USDA as treated to emerald ash borer standards.
Most state parks and forests have certified firewood or firewood from the property for sale on site. To check availability, contact the property by searching the DNR website dnr.wi.gov for “parks.” Many federal, county and private campgrounds also restrict firewood on their properties. Call for details before you travel.
For more details about firewood in Wisconsin search the DNR website dnr.wi.gov for keyword “firewood” or call 1-877-303-WOOD (9663).
