NEW YORK — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding residents that almost all native New York tree species are prone to the impacts of invasive species and pests, so it’s important to limit their spread throughout the state.
Invasive pests like the Asian longhorned beetle can hitch a ride to new areas in or on untreated firewood. Transporting firewood can also result in the spread of fungal diseases, such as laurel wilt and oak wilt.
Laurel wilt is a fungal disease that kills trees and shrubs in the laurel family, including sassafras and spicebush. Once the fungus is introduced inside a tree, it spreads quickly, blocking water flow and causing death within weeks.
The oak wilt fungus blocks the flow of water and nutrients from the roots to the crown, causing the leaves to wilt and fall off, usually killing the tree. Symptoms of oak wilt are often very noticeable in red oaks. In white oaks, symptoms only affect a few branches each year, and progress slowly over multiple years.
Whether you’re having s’mores with the kids, a bonfire hangout with friends or a cookout at camp, limit the spread of invasive species by following New York State’s firewood regulation:
– untreated firewood may not be imported into New York from any other state or country.
– untreated, New York-grown firewood must stay within a 50-mile radius of its source of origin.
– if transporting untreated firewood and your destination is within 50 miles, you must fill out a Self-Issued Certificate of Origin: https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/selfisscert.pdf.
– if purchasing and transporting untreated firewood, it must have a receipt or label that identifies the firewood source; hold onto your receipt until all the firewood is burned.
Heat-treated firewood can be transported anywhere in New York, but it must have a receipt or label that says, “New York Approved Heat-Treated Firewood/Pest-Free”, meaning it has been heated to either 71° C or 160° F for 75 minutes.