It is illegal to bring firewood into the state of Oregon from a state outside of the Pacific Northwest (i.e., OR, WA, ID) or from the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, or British Columbia. Oregon’s Department of Agriculture requires that all heat-treated firewood that enters the state from outside these areas be labeled as “Approved Pacific Northwest Firewood” or “Approved Pest Free”. These rules are in place to protect Oregon from harmful forest pests that spread to new areas via the movement of firewood.
UPDATE: As of late June, 2022, the highly destructive emerald ash borer has been found in Forest Grove, Oregon. Officials in the state have destroyed trees found to be infested and are currently surveying the surrounding areas to determine the extent of the established infestation. More action is pending according the the EAB Readiness and Response Plan in Oregon. If you live or travel in Oregon, please, don’t move firewood!
Because some areas in Oregon are already infested with the pests that cause sudden oak death and Dutch elm disease, it is against the law to move firewood out of, or within, these 13 counties. Also, many midwestern and eastern states prohibit firewood entering from Oregon to prevent the spread of thousand cankers disease of walnut.
Oregon Dept. of Agriculture (ODA) states that as a general rule, moving firewood 50 miles is too far, and under 10 or less miles is best. Since collecting downed wood within all national and state parks is against the law, Oregon’s State Parks suggest you buy your firewood at the campground, or close to it.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 8 September 2022.
Oregon Web Resources :
- How You Can Help – Firewood Page, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture (ODA)
- Oregon State Parks FAQ
- Oregon’s Firewood Restrictions to Prevent Transport Invasive Species
- Oregon Firewood Rule, as Interpreted on OregonLaws.orgs
- Oregon Invasive Species Council Don’t Move Firewood Page
- The Hidden Threat in Firewood: Invasive Forest Pests, OR State University
- Oregon’s Department of Forestry Forest Health Program
- Oregon’s Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program
- Oregon Invasive Species Reporting Website
- Become an Oregon Forest Pest Detector!
Pest Specific Resources:
- Asian Spongy Moth, Threat and Opportunity brochure (2016)
- Chestnut blight quarantine in Oregon
- Dutch Elm Disease and Elm Yellows Phytoplasma quarantine in Oregon
- Emerald ash borer in Oregon
- Emerald ash borer response plan in Oregon
- European Spongy Moth quarantine area
- Thousand Cankers Disease Information and Map Archives
- Oregon trees’ next nemesis: Bark beetles, article 2021
- Oregon Invasive Pests Hotline
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