West Virginia (WV) has the following federal and state regulations on the movement of firewood to protect the state’s natural and agriculture resources from invasive tree pests:
- A federal quarantine on spongy moth restricts the legal transportation of firewood from central or northeastern WV into southwestern WV. It is also against federal regulations to transport firewood into southwestern WV from other states’ spongy moth quarantine zones.
- State regulation legally restricts the transport firewood into WV from any state with a known infestation of thousand cankers disease of walnut.
Spotted lanternfly is creeping its way into northern and eastern portions of West Virginia with infestations in several nearby states. This pest and others (e.g., Asian longhorned beetle) can hitchhike on firewood which means that bringing firewood into West Virginia from out-of-state poses a serious risk to West Virginia trees. Several nearby states also have laws affecting the entry of out-of-state firewood, so firewood should not be taken out of West Virginia.
Authorities in West Virginia recommend the following:
- Use only local firewood
- Buy firewood at your campground or collect dead and down firewood when permitted
- Don’t take firewood home with you after camping
Campgrounds often have additional restrictions on the use or movement of firewood and firewood is usually available on-site or from nearby vendors. Find out the rules in your area and destination before traveling with firewood. When in doubt, buy it where you burn it.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 18 July 2024.
West Virginia Resources:
- Forest Health Protection, WV Dept. of Agriculture
- Quarantines, WV Dept. of Agriculture
- Invasive Species, WV Division of Forestry
- West Virginia Fights War Against Invasive Insects
- How you can help protect West Virginia’s forests WV Division of Forestry
- Firewood Information, WV University Extension
- Monongahela National Forest Firewood Information
Pest Specific Information
- Spongy Moth Federal Quarantine Interactive Map
- Emerald Ash Borer Information Network
- Asian Longhorned Beetle Information, USDA APHIS
- Thousand Cankers Disease Quarantine in West Virginia
- Spotted Lanternfly Information, WV Dept. of Agriculture
- Spotted Lanternfly Current Distribution
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