Firewood restrictions are in effect on state land

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DNR reminds holiday campers that firewood restrictions are in effect on state land
(Released July 1, 2010)


With the Fourth of July weekend approaching, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds campers that only firewood purchased at a state park or from a DNR-approved vendor may be brought onto any DNR-administered lands. This is to prevent the spread of forest pests, such as emerald ash borer (EAB), which can catch a ride to new areas by hiding inside firewood.


Visitors bringing unapproved firewood onto DNR-administered lands, including wood brought from home, must surrender it and may be subject to a $100 fine. Campers bringing wood from an approved vendor must supply the receipt as proof of purchase.

Susan Burks, DNR’s Exotic Species Program coordinator, adds that Minnesotans should take the following steps to keep EAB and other forest pests from spreading

Leave extra firewood onsite and don’t bring it home.
Never buy or move firewood that came from outside of Minnesota.
Those camping on state forest land outside of a designated campground may gather dead wood on the ground for campfire use onsite. In state parks and designated campgrounds in state forests, visitors are prohibited from scavenging dead wood.

EAB is an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees. Its larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and cutting off the tree’s supply of water and nutrients. Since its accidental introduction into North America, EAB has killed more than 50 million ash trees in 14 states and Ontario, Canada. Minnesota is a prime target for EAB with more than 900 million ash trees.

For a list of approved firewood vendors, visit DNR website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewood_vendors/vendors/list.html.

More firewood information is available at www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewood/index.html.

More information about Emerald ash borer is available at www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/eab/index.html or www.mda.state.mn.us/.