Authorities in Alberta prohibit the transport of elm firewood in and out of the province to prevent the spread of Dutch elm disease. Also, many visitors to Alberta come from areas regulated for invasive forest pests such as the spongy moth, European larch canker, and emerald ash borer. Since these and other harmful tree pests spread to new areas when people travel with firewood, it is illegal to transport firewood out of regulated areas without a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) permit. Below is a summary of CFIA recommendations for handling firewood in Canada; learn more on our Canada page.
- Buy certified, heat-treated and/or local firewood only (within 80km)
- Do not bring firewood into a national park in Canada
- Do not remove firewood out of any campground
- Tell others about the dangers of moving firewood long distances
National parks (e.g., Banff and Elk Island) and provincial parks in Alberta urge campers to only use campground-provided firewood or local/heat-treated firewood.
Bringing firewood from Canada into the USA is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified heat-treated. Read about these requirements on the USDA and CBP firewood information sheet.
Bringing firewood from the USA into Canada is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified heat-treated. Canada also encourages visitors to use local firewood.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 27 September 2022.
Alberta Resources:
- Alberta Campground Guide, Firewood Regulations
- Alberta Provincial Parks Info. (See How do I get firewood at a Park?)
- Directive on the Importation of Forest Products with Bark Attached
- Alberta Invasive Species Council, Take Action Page
- Alberta Forest Management
- Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease
- Dutch Elm Disease Prevention and Control
- Saskatchewan and Alberta Renew Partnership in Mountain Pine Beetle Fight, 2022 press release Saskatchewan Government
General Canada Web Resources:
- Don’t Move Firewood Page, CFIA
- Protecting Canada from Invasive Species
- Asian Longhorned Beetle Info., CFIA
- Emerald Ash Borer Regulated Areas in Canada
- Brown spruce longhorn beetle Info., CFIA
- Spongy Moth information, CFIA
- Spongy Moth Quarantine Area in Canada
Do you have better resources for our Alberta page? Submit them at the Submit a Link ribbon below!