The state of North Carolina has multiple large regions quarantined due to the presence of damaging forest pests. Taking firewood out of any quarantined area or county, and bringing it into a non-quarantined county, is prohibited. North Carolina also prohibits the entry of pine firewood from states with European wood wasp (e.g., NY, PA, MI, VT). The North Carolina Forest Service advises that no matter where you are in the state, it is best to use firewood harvested under 50 miles from where you will burn it.
Forest pests that spread by hitchhiking in or on firewood kill thousands of trees in North Carolina and neighboring states each year. Residents and visitors can help contain these pests by following rules and policies for firewood. For example:
- National Park campground facilities (e.g., Great Smoky Mountain National Park & Blue Ridge Parkway) prohibit outside firewood unless it has been certified, heat-treated.
- NC State Parks and National Forest Campgrounds urge campers to acquire firewood where you intend to burn it. Some campgrounds may allow the collection of dead and downed trees from around the campground; call or research ahead of time to see if this is permitted.
- Private campgrounds often have their own firewood rules – remember to find out the individual campsite policies before heading there.
Find firewood vendors at FirewoodScout.org.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 28 July 2022.
North Carolina Web Resources
- Use Local Firewood, NC Forest Service page
- Firewood as a Vector of Invasive Pest Dispersal, NC State Extension
- NCDACS Plant Industry Division and Quarantine Info
- US Forest Service Southern Region Firewood Information
- Forest Invasives Map, NC Forest Service
- North Carolina Plant Protection Regulation Summary
- North Carolina State University, Firewood Summary Blog
- The Nature Conservancy’s Great Smoky Mountains Information
- North Carolina Forest Service Forest Health Highlight- 2021 Volume
- Forest Health, NC Forest Service
Pest Specific Pages
- Spotted lanternfly confirmed in North Carolina, NC State Extension
- Emerald Ash Borer Program and Quarantine, NC Dept. of Ag. & Consumer Services
- Emerald Ash Borer range in NC
- Imported Fire Ant Information and Maps, North Carolina Dept. of Ag. and Consumer Services
- Imported Fire Ant information and Map archives, USDA APHIS Information page
- Spongy Moth Quarantine, North Carolina Dept. of Ag. and Consumer Services
- Laurel Wilt Information, NC Forest Service
- Thousand Cankers of Walnut page, NC Forest Service
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