It's Not Just a Nice-to-Have
Buying firewood from close to home isn't only about supporting a local business or cutting down on delivery cost, though both are real benefits. It's one of the most effective things an individual can do to slow the spread of invasive forest pests that are already reshaping American forests.
The Pests Riding Inside Firewood
Several of the most destructive invasive insects in North America travel primarily by hitching a ride in firewood:
- Emerald ash borer has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees since being detected in Michigan in 2002, and it can survive inside cut ash firewood for two years or more after the tree was felled, emerging fresh in a new area far from where the wood was cut.
- Asian longhorned beetle attacks maple, birch, and other hardwoods, and larvae can live undetected deep inside a log.
- Spotted lanternfly doesn't live inside the wood itself, but egg masses are laid on bark and firewood stacks and easily travel with a load of wood.
- Gypsy moth (spongy moth) egg masses attach to bark the same way.
None of these are visible from the outside of a split log most of the time. A perfectly normal-looking piece of firewood can carry an infestation.
The 50-Mile Rule
The general guidance from state agriculture departments and forestry services is: don't move firewood more than 50 miles from where it was cut, and closer is better — 10 miles or less is ideal. Some states legally cap intrastate firewood movement at 50 miles from the source. This isn't an arbitrary number; it roughly matches how far these pests could spread naturally on their own in a season, so keeping wood movement inside that radius doesn't meaningfully accelerate an infestation beyond what would happen anyway.
State Quarantines
Because of active infestations, a number of states — including Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maine, and Maryland, among others — have formal firewood quarantine zones restricting how far untreated firewood can be transported, especially ash wood. Rules vary by state, so if you're moving wood any real distance — bringing it to a campsite in another state, for instance — check that state's current quarantine map before you load the truck.
The One Exception: Heat-Treated Wood
Kiln-dried firewood that's been heated to a sustained temperature high enough to kill insects and larvae is generally accepted for longer-distance transport, including across state lines and into campgrounds with "local wood only" rules. Look for packaging stamped with the USDA/APHIS heat-treatment mark or a supplier's documentation that the wood was kiln-dried, not just air-seasoned. Seasoning alone doesn't kill pests — it only reduces moisture.
Beyond Pests: Other Reasons Local Wins
- Freshness and moisture control: Local suppliers cut and season on a shorter cycle, so you're more likely to know exactly how old the wood is and how it's been stored.
- Species accuracy: A local supplier can usually tell you exactly what species you're getting and how it was seasoned — details that get fuzzy with wood that's changed hands a few times over a long supply chain.
- Lower cost, less handling: Shorter delivery distances mean lower delivery fees and less time the wood spends bouncing around in transit, which can knock bark loose and speed up drying unevenly.
- Supporting your local economy: Firewood is one of the few home-heating products still commonly sourced and sold by small, local operators. Buying local keeps that business local.
The Simple Rule
If you're heating your own home, buy from a supplier within your state, ideally within 50 miles. If you're bringing wood somewhere else — a cabin, a campsite, a state park — buy it there, or bring only certified heat-treated wood.
Check firewood delivery availability in your area or find a local supplier in our free directory to keep your wood — and your neighborhood's trees — close to home.