People who care for forests have had a laser focus on firewood as a carrier of tree-killing forest pests for almost 20 years. The rapid spread of emerald ash borer in the United States and Canada is what brought firewood so sharply into focus. Years ago, it became clear that the transport of firewood speeds up the spread of emerald ash borer; about three-quarters of the early infestations in Michigan were tied to this pathway.

Asian longhorned beetle spread has also been linked to the movement of infested firewood. What else can you carry with
you when you move firewood, instead of leaving it at home and buying or gathering local wood?

Consider this list:

• Oak wilt fungus that threatens our oaks;

• The colorful planthopper and expert hitchhiker, the spotted lanternfly, that threatens not only trees, but also important crops and certain adult beverages;

• The human and tree health threatening browntail moth.

These invasive pests are just the beginning of the long list of threats to forest health. The kicker is that the list of what we know moves with firewood is long, but new threats continue to come in from other places and infest the forests around ports and other settled areas. Over the last century, an average of 2.5 new insect species arrived on our continent every year. And high impact forest pests, like emerald
ash borer, sudden oak death, and Asian longhorned beetle, were found at a rate of about 1 every 2.5 years.

So, what’s in your firewood? Maybe the next threat to Maine’s pristine lakeshores and great trout habitat, to Maine’s tourism, recreation and forest economies, to Maine’s scenic mountains and shores, to Maine’s way of life and the way life should be — to the reasons you traveled in the first place. There is a cost to buying firewood at your destination or bringing certified heat-treated firewood, but the costs of moving firewood can be far greater and irreversible.

Maine has a ban on untreated firewood from out-of-state, but it is important to use local or heat treated firewood even within Maine. If you have questions, check out the Don’t Move Firewood FAQ’s.

If you’ve already moved firewood, don’t leave it or bring it home – burn it!

If you can’t burn it all within 24 hours, bring it to the nearest drop-off site (see list below).

You can learn more at DontMoveFirewood.org.

Firewood drop-off sites: Maine Forest Service Offices

Augusta: Bolton Hill Facility at 2870 North Belfast Ave, Augusta: (207) 624-3700

Gray: 356 Shaker Road, Gray: (207) 657-3552

West Paris: 131 Bethel Road, West Paris: (207) 674-2442

This column was supplied by the Maine Forest Service. Tree Talk is by Robert Fogg, who is general manager of Q-Team Tree Service in Naples. He can be reached at RobertFogg@Q-Team.com.

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