Curious how you can help to prevent the spread of pests and pathogens on firewood in Washington? This toolkit has all the basics, including messaging tips, links to Washington-specific resources, and more. Meant for agencies, campsite owners, and anyone interested in keeping Washington’s forests healthy.
Don’t Move Firewood
Laurel
Downs
laurel.downs@tnc.org
Contact Agency:
The Nature Conservancy
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Thank you for considering adding some information about firewood regulations to your website!
Below, you will find messages and graphics that you can copy to motivate your visitors and audience to preserve Washington’s forests for the future. Preventing the spread of forest pests is key to healthy Washington forests, which means healthy streams, salmon, orcas, and communities.
Thank you for your support and interest in Don’t Move Firewood!
Best Practices:
- Encourage your visitors to buy or gather firewood locally to prevent the spread of pests.
- As a rule of thumb, moving firewood 50 miles is too far, and under 10 or less miles is best.
- Washington has a new quarantine that prohibits the entry of firewood from out of state because of pests and diseases like emerald ash borer, spongy moth, and spotted lanternfly. This new law takes full effect in August 2026.
- Whenever possible, include a mention of Washington’s new firewood quarantine and a simple explanation of what it means.
- Under Washington’s new state law, only heat-treated firewood labeled “approved pest free” is allowed from outside of the state. Encourage out-of-state visitors and firewood sellers to learn more about current firewood regulations.
Text Resources:
Here are some informational blurbs for your website:
- Forests are being destroyed through the transportation of invasive insects and diseases found in firewood.
- To prevent the spread of pests that destroy forests, do not move firewood. Instead, obtain it from local sources.
- Burn firewood in the same general area as the wood source. As a general rule, 50 miles is too far, and 10 miles or less is best.
- Did you know? Firewood can only legally enter Washington from out of state if it is labeled “Approved Pest Free.” Violators are subject to civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. (Note: we advise using this statement only after August 18, 2026, when these penalties are fully in effect.)
- We also welcome you to link to Don’t Move Firewood (dontmovefirewood.org, or https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/map/washington/ if you prefer) on your own FAQ page, within campsite information, during the campsite booking process, and in confirmation emails.
Don’t Move Firewood Graphics and Web Resources:
