Wisconsin DNR urges residents to buy local, burn local firewood

MADISON, Wis. (WSAW) - State natural resources officials are urging campers, travelers and homeowners to source their firewood locally this fall to prevent spreading invasive pests and tree-killing diseases across Wisconsin.

Ahead of National Firewood Month in October, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is calling on the public to follow the guideline: “Buy local, burn local.”

Pests can spread through transported wood

Insects and fungal diseases, including spongy moths, emerald ash borers, Asian longhorned beetles and oak wilt, frequently lurk inside or on harvested wood. When untreated firewood is transported from where it was cut, those pests can emerge in new locations, whether miles down the road or across the state.

Campers are advised to buy firewood on-site or from nearby vendors rather than transporting logs from home or picking them up along the highway. Officials also urge travelers to leave any unused wood behind rather than packing it back home. The same precautions apply to residents purchasing wood to heat homes or cabins.

Rules for state parks and forests

Wisconsin state parks and state-managed lands prohibit visitors from bringing in firewood harvested more than 10 miles from the property boundary. The only exception is wood that has been treatment-certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Certified wood may be legally moved anywhere in the state.

All staffed state parks and forests with campgrounds offer local firewood for purchase on-site, and private vendors frequently operate nearby. Campers and property owners can locate certified sellers through the Firewood Scout directory.

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