Don't Move Firewood | Firewood Hitchhikers Campaign

In 2010, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho launched a tri-state outreach campaign to inform the public about the dangers of moving firewood to Pacific Northwest forests. The campaign, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, closely followed the messaging of the national Don't Move Firewood campaign, which recommends buy firewood that was cut locally, preferably within the county or region of where it will be burned. The tri-state outreach campaign, Buy It Where You Burn It, encouraged good campfire practices with branded posters, billboards, and playing cards located at rest stops and state parks. 

Why Not?

Firewood is a major pathway for invasive species. Transporting firewood can potentially lead to new infestations of invasive insects and diseases, which can lurk in firewood (see pest list for Oregon species below). These tree-killing pests cannot move far on their own, but when people move the firewood that harbors them, they unwittingly enable these pests to start a new infestation. These types of invaders have devastated native species of trees such as the American chestnut, hemlock, and the American elm—species, which have been part of American forests and streetscapes for centuries.

Don't Move Firewood is an important message shared by the Council, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and Oregon Department of Forestry. Indeed, an administrative rule established in 2012 under the Oregon Department of Agriculture states that, "No person shall transport firewood, by any means, untreated firewood into the State of Oregon, for sale or use within the state from any location outside of the Pacific Northwest" (OAR 603-052-1080) with the explicit intention of keep wood-boring insects and plant diseases from being introduced to the state.

It is illegal to bring uncertified firewood into Oregon from a state outside of the Pacific Northwest (i.e., OR, WA, ID). Oregon’s Department of Agriculture requires that all certified, heat-treated firewood that enters the state from outside these areas be labeled as “Approved Pacific Northwest Firewood” or “Approved Pest Free”. These rules are in place to protect Oregon from harmful forest pests that spread to new areas via the movement of firewood.

Important: In July 2022, the highly destructive emerald ash borer was found in Washington County, Oregon. In response officials have conducted surveys and initiated a response plan to slow ash mortality. A quarantine is in place to contain the infestation, and hardwood firewood is prohibited from leaving the Washington County. If you live or travel in Oregon, please, don’t move firewood!  If you live or travel in Oregon, please, don’t move firewood!

UPDATE: Emerald Ash Borer has recently been discovered in 3 more counties in Oregon. To prevent rapid spread of this pest, please do not move firewood more than 10 miles from where it was cut.

Some areas in Oregon are already infested with deadly tree pests and pathogens; as a result, quarantines are in place which restrict the movement firewood out of or within quarantined areas. This is the case for the pathogen that causes sudden oak death, Phytophthora ramorum, (see the quarantine details here) as well as the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease which includes a quarantine zone of 12 listed Oregon counties.Many midwestern and eastern states also prohibit firewood from Oregon to prevent the spread of thousand cankers disease of walnut.

Oregon Dept. of Agriculture states that as a general rule, moving firewood 50 miles is too far, and under 10 or less miles is best. Since collecting downed wood within all national and state parks in Oregon is against the law, Oregon’s State Parks suggest you buy your firewood at the campground, or close to it.

Common insects and disease pests of trees that can be moved with firewood, currently found in Oregon:

  • Emerald ash borer (invasive species, in ash)

  • Mediterranean oak borer (invasive species, in oak)

  • Mountain pine beetle (native species, in pines)

  • Douglas-fir beetle (native species, in Douglas-fir)

  • Ips beetle (native species, in pines)

  • Wood borers, such as pine sawyers and flat-headed wood borer (native species, in Pines, Douglas-fir and other conifers)

  • Powderpost beetles and ambrosia beetles (native species, in conifers and hardwoods)

  • Thousand Cankers Disease (exotic pathogen, in walnut)

  • Dutch Elm Disease (exotic pathogen, in American elm)

  • Sudden oak death (exotic pathogen, in tanoak and several other trees and shrubs)

  • Black stain root disease (native pathogen, in Pines, Douglas-fir and other conifers)

Exotic invasive insects and disease pests that can be moved with firewood, not currently found in Oregon:

  • Asian Longhorn beetle (maples and other hardwoods)

  • Ambrosia beetles, such as Polyphagous shothole borer (conifers and hardwoods)

  • Gold-spotted oak borer (oak)

  • Several species of exotic bark beetles (conifers and hardwoods)

  • Oak wilt

What species can be moved with firewood?

Tips to help protect Pacific Northwest forests

  • Obtain firewood near the location where you will burn it—that means the wood was cut in a nearby forest, in the same county. NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION RECOMMEND THAT YOU PURCHASE FIREWOOD WITHIN A 10-MILE RADIUS FROM WHERE YOU’LL HAVE YOUR FIRE OR PURCHASE HEAT-TREATED WOOD..

  • Don’t be tempted to get firewood from a remote location just because the wood looks clean and healthy. It could still harbor tiny insect eggs or microscopic fungal spores that will start a new and deadly infestation of forest pests.

  • Aged or seasoned wood is not considered safe to move, but commercially kiln-dried wood is a good option if you must transport firewood.

  • If you have already moved firewood, and you now know you need to dispose of it safely, burn it soon and completely. Man sure to rake the storage area carefully and also burn the debris. In the future, buy from a local source.

  • Tell your friends and others about the risks of moving firewood—no one wants to be responsible for starting a new pest infestation.

Moving firewood long distances can spread invasive forest pests hidden in or on the wood. Your firewood choices matter, and you can help slow the spread of these tree-killing pests. You have the power to slow the spread of forest pests. Don't move firewood - instead, make one of these better choices: Buy firewood where you'll burn it. Video brought to you by Oregon Department of Forestry.

Learn More by Visiting the National Site

For more information about the Don't Move Firewood campaign, please contact Wyatt Williams (wyatt.williams@oregon.gov) at the Oregon Department of Forestry.