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 European gypsy 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
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 30 July 2021.
Alberta Resources
- Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease
- Dutch Elm Disease Prevention and Control
- Alberta Forest Management
- Alberta Campground Guide, Firewood Regulations
- Alberta Invasive Species Council, Take Action Page
General Canada Web Resources
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency Don’t Move Firewood
- US Customs and Border Protection (regarding personal firewood from Canada into USA)
- Canada Border Services Agency (regarding personal firewood from USA into Canada)
- Asian Longhorned Beetle, Questions and Answers
- Emerald Ash Borer Regulated Areas in Canada
- Brown spruce longhorned beetle, general information, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Emerald ash borer, Areas Regulated in Canada
- European Gypsy Moth North America Quarantine Map
- Gypsy Moth Quarantine Area in Canada
Firewood Business Related Information for Canada
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Firewood Regulations
- Protecting Canada from Invasive Species
- Canadian Forest Service Publications
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