Firewood - Keeping it local
A growing number of forestry and agriculture officials are warning residents not to transport firewood across county lines, citing the risk of spreading destructive invasive insects. Pests such as the emerald ash borer, spongy moth, Asian long-horned beetle, and spotted lanternfly often hide inside or on the surface of firewood, allowing them to “hitchhike” into new areas where they can devastate crops, hardwoods, and even entire forests.
Here's a sample advisory from the Virginia Department of Forestry>> (PDF file)
And another sample from Kentucky>>
State agencies say the safest practice is simple - buy firewood where you plan to burn it. Moving untreated wood is discouraged, and in some cases — especially in quarantined zones — it’s illegal without proper heat‑treatment certification. Certified, sealed firewood may be transported, but once opened, it can attract insects and should not be moved.
Officials urge campers, homeowners, and rural landowners to plan ahead, purchase local wood, and leave leftover firewood behind when traveling. They say these small steps help protect forests, local economies, and agricultural producers from costly infestations.
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