Healthy forests improve air and water quality, provide wildlife habitat, scenic backdrops for recreation, and important rural jobs.
 Untreated out-of-state firewood is banned in Maine and even in-state firewood can spread pests to new areas.
Maine forests are threatened by many exotic pests and diseases that hitchhike on firewood, including emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, oak wilt disease, Asian longhorned beetle, browntail moth, and beech leaf-mining weevil.
The movement of firewood speeds up the spread of destructive forest pests. For example, about three-quarters of the early infestations of emerald ash borer in Michigan were directly tied to firewood transport. Some domestic spread of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle has also been traced to the movement of infested firewood.
To help protect the health of our forests, follow these firewood tips:
- Use local firewood (50 miles is too far, 10 miles or less is best), or
- Use certified heat-treated firewood (heat-treated to 160 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 75 minutes, and
- Follow quarantine requirements (firewood is a regulated article in the emerald ash borer quarantine in Maine)
Help prevent the spread of insects and diseases that harm our forests by choosing heat-treated or local firewood. Find more tips at maine.gov/firewood.
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