As Minnesotans settle into the winter season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding landowners who harvest or buy firewood for heating to take the following steps to protect their homes, woods and selves.
Avoid moving firewood
The DNR urges landowners who harvest their own firewood to burn it close to where it is cut. Similarly, the agency reminds people who buy firewood to find locally sourced wood. With insects dormant in winter, cutting firewood during cold months and minimizing the distance cut firewood travels reduces the risk of spreading diseases and fungi. Once the weather warms up and insects become active, unused firewood can spread invasive insects and diseases such as emerald ash borer and oak wilt.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has established pest quarantines in some areas that restrict the movement of firewood. Only firewood that has been processed or heat-treated and is MDA-certified can be moved out of quarantine areas. Moving untreated firewood out of quarantine boundaries can result in fines. More information is available on the MDA website (mda.state.mn.us).
Store wood safely to prevent fire
Sparks, embers or a stray grassfire can ignite firewood quickly. Proper firewood storage is an important step Minnesotans can take to prevent wildfires and protect homes.
- Store only the firewood needed for the season at least 30 feet from a home or other structures.
- Avoid stacking firewood directly against buildings, which can create a direct path for fire to spread.
- Clear leaves, needles and dry vegetation from around stacked or piled firewood to reduce fuel sources.
Maintaining defensible space around homes and outbuildings is especially important during warm or dry winter periods when snow cover is limited. For more tips on how to keep homes and properties safe from fire, visit the DNR’s Firewise webpage (mndnr.gov/firewise).
By following smart firewood practices, Minnesotans can stay warm while protecting homes from fire and woodlands from invasive species.
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