Idaho Summary:
The Idaho Department of Agriculture strongly advises that firewood should be bought and used locally to prevent the spread of pests both within the state, and to prevent pests from accidentally entering the state. Many visitors to Idaho live in areas under quarantine for pests such as emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, and imported fire ant, and it is illegal to move any regulated items (most firewood is considered a regulated item) from quarantined zones out of those states and into Idaho. Eighteen states in the Central and Eastern US prohibit bringing hardwood firewood originating from Idaho into their state, to prevent the movement of thousand cankers disease. Firewood harvesting of whitebark pine is not permitted in multiple Idaho National Forests due to its declining population from increasing infection by white pine blister rust. This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 3 October 2019.
Crossing from the USA into Canada: It is against Canadian law to bring firewood from the USA into Canada for personal use without an appropriate permit. The firewood must also be packaged and labeled to show it has been heat treated to a minimum core temperature of 56°C for a minimum of 30 minutes. Canada encourages buying local and burning local firewood through their campaign buylocalburnlocal.ca.
Crossing from Canada into the USA: It is against US law to bring any untreated firewood for personal use (including both hardwood and softwood/conifer) from Canada into the USA.
Idaho Web Resources
- Invasive Species of Idaho, Camper and Firewood Information Page
- Idaho Department of Lands Forest Health, Insects and Diseases
- Idaho Department of Lands Don’t Move Firewood Poster, 2014
- USFS, Why There is No Firewood Harvesting of Whitebark Pine
- Thousand Cankers Disease information and Map Archives
- Idaho Statesman: Don’t Move Firewood in Idaho Q&A
- Idaho Invasive Species: Regulated and Invasive Insect Pests
- Idaho Department of Land: Don’t Move Firewood
Do you have better links or information for Idaho? Help us out by clicking on the Submit A Link button below.