The movement of firewood is tightly restricted in Ontario since it has areas under regulation for invasive forest pests including emerald ash borer, spongy moth, and Dutch elm disease. Since these and other harmful tree pests can spread to new areas when people travel with untreated firewood, it is illegal to move firewood out of a regulated area without a movement certificate from the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency (CFIA). To prevent the spread of harmful pests both within and between provinces, Canadian authorities outline some firewood rules and recommendations:
- Buy local and certified heat-treated firewood (ideally within 80km)
- Do not bring outside firewood into Canada’s national parks
- Do not remove firewood out of any campground
- Tell others about the dangers of moving firewood long distances
Oak wilt has been detected in multiple locations in the Niagara region as well as in Springwater, Ontario; the spread to Springwater was very likely due to the movement of contaminated firewood. To prevent the further spread of this deadly pathogen, firewood should not be transported from these areas.
Ontario Provincial Parks encourages their visitors to purchase firewood at their campground stores, purchase kiln dried firewood where available, and buy local. Ontario’s private campground association also urges campers to buy and burn local to protect the great outdoors from invasive forest pests. Be sure to find out the rules at your destination before bringing firewood; when in doubt, buy it where you burn it.
Bringing firewood from Canada into the USA is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified heat-treated. Click 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.
Contact your local CFIA office for specific questions about firewood movement.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 15 August 2024.
Ontario Specific Web Resources:
- Campfires and Firewood, Camping in Ontario
- Movement of Wood, Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program
- Planning to Bring Your Own Firewood to the Park?, Ontario Parks Blog
- Forest Pests and Pathogens, Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program
- Invasive Species in Ontario
- Oak wilt in Ontario
- Hemlock Woolly Adelgid confirmed in Ontario
Canada General Web Resources
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency Don’t Move Firewood
- Canadian Invasive Species Council – Buy Local Burn Local
- Canada Border Services Agency (regarding personal firewood from USA into Canada)
Pest Specific Information for Canada
- Asian Longhorned Beetle
- Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle
- Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle Regulation Information
- Emerald Ash Borer
- Spongy Moth Quarantine in Canada
For more information, visit our General Canada Information page.
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