The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued several quarantines to protect the state’s natural and agricultural resources from harmful pests like the spotted lanternfly and thousand cankers disease. As a result, it is illegal to bring firewood into Virginia from quarantined areas without the proper heat-treatment documentation and/or permits.
Some areas in Virginia are already invaded with harmful tree pests like spongy moth and imported fire ant; federal quarantines on these pests further restrict the movement of firewood both out of and within the state. Also, moving firewood from Frederick county and the city of Winchester into other areas in Virginia is restricted due to infestation of the invasive spotted lanternfly. Restrictions apply for the counties and cities infested with thousand cankers disease of walnut as well.
Virginia State Parks recommend the following:
- Leave your firewood at home
- Buy firewood at or near the campground
- Burn all wood before leaving
Several National Parks in Virginia (e.g., Blue Ridge, Cumberland Gap, and Shenandoah) do not allow visitors to bring outside firewood unless it is bundled and certified heat-treated; firewood is often available for purchase by campground vendors. To protect Virginia’s trees, find out the policies in your area and destination before bringing firewood. When in doubt, buy it where you burn it.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 7 June 2022.
Need to find local firewood? Visit Firewood Scout
Virginia Web Resources:
- Firewood Quarantines, Virginia State Parks
- Quarantines in Virginia, VA Department of Forestry
- Common Pests That Travel on Firewood in Virginia
- Plant Industry Services, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- US Forest Service Southern Region Firewood Information
- Shenandoah National Park Firewood Ban
- Cumberland Gap National Historic Park Firewood Alert
Pest Specific Information
- Forest Insects and Diseases in Virginia, Department of Forestry
- European Spongy Moth Federal Quarantine Map
- Imported Fire Ant Information and Map Archives
- Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine in Virginia, VDACS
- Spotted Lanternfly Current Distribution
- Thousand Cankers Disease Quarantine Information, VA Dept. of Forestry
Do you have a link to suggest for Virginia? Submit it at the ribbon below!