Firewood advice: Buy it where you burn it

Oregonians are being urged this fall and winterto purchase local firewood, or at least make sure firewood from outside thePacific Northwest has met the requirement of being heat treated and labeled aspest-free.

The precautionis necessary because of the threat of invasivespecies being introduced to Oregon through firewood.

Oregon consumers should lookfor two types of firewood available for sale, the Oregon Department of Agriculture said Monday.

“There is wood cut in Oregon,Washington, or Idaho that is allowed without heat treatment,” says HelmuthRogg, director of plant programs for the Oregon Department of Agriculture.”That is the best firewood for Oregonians to purchase.

“If it harborsanyinsects, they are the ones that are native to Oregon and are not a threat toour forests and agriculture. The other kind available to consumers is firewoodcoming from outside the Pacific Northwest which is heat treated and has a labelstating that it is pest-free.”

Many invasive insects andplant diseases introduced to states back East have spread through the transportof firewood. Emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle are two examples ofinsects that have moved into other states through firewoodand are potentialthreats to Oregon.

The 2011 state Legislature passed a firewood law and gaveregulatory authority to ODA, which established rules to diminish the possibilityof dangerous pests hitching a ride to Oregon on firewood.

The state’s firewood law wasthe first major legislative victory for the Oregon Invasive Species Council.OISC had conducted significant outreach and education prior to the law cominginto effect, and continues to feature a “buy it where you burn it”campaign.

“ODA is checking labels as wego about our other business to make sure people are complying, but everyoneagrees the best way to enforce this law is to continue getting the word out,”says Rogg. “The consumer plays a large role by making surethey purchasefirewood that is either local or heat treated.”

Even though local firewood isnot required to be labeled, commercial sellers can choose to do so anyway. Aproduct label is allowed to claim an approved Pacific Northwest firewood. Apest free label, however, will require the same heat treatmentneeded forfirewood originating from outside Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

For more information, contactHelmuth Rogg at (503) 986-4662 .