Firewood Advisory

Firewood and the Emerald Ash Borer

Missouri's forests are being threatened and you can help protect them.

The emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle, has already killed more than 50 million ash trees in the northern United States. It has now been detected in forests in Missouri. Federal and state quarantines have been issued for Wayne County to restrict movement of any ash wood product. This includes all hardwood firewood, the most common way emerald ash borer is spread. This quarantine for Wayne County includes both Lake Wappapello State Park and Sam A. Baker State Park.

How You Can Help:

For campers in Lake Wappapello or Sam A. Baker State Parks:

If you purchase or bring firewood into Lake Wappapello State Park or Sam A. Baker State Park, do not take it out of the parks. Once it is brought into Wayne County, it is quarantined and must not leave the county.
If you have firewood in either park, you must burn all of the firewood before you leave.
Do not leave it for other campers.
Violators of the federal and state quarantines are subject to penalties, including fines.

For all campers:

Know where your firewood comes from. Do not move or purchase firewood if it comes from Wayne County, Missouri, Illinois or any of the other eight states that have an emerald ash borer infestation. This also means not moving firewood with you on your camping trip. View updated maps of quarantined states at www.emeraldashborer.info/map.cfm

For more information about emerald ash borer, visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page or call the department's toll free number at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). If you have any questions about your firewood, please check with park staff.

Together, we can help prevent the spread of this beetle and protect Missouri's state parks and forests.

7/29/08 -- Discovery of forest pest triggers state, federal response

Resources

Emerald Ash Borer and the Firewood Quarantine FAQs, Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Survey for emerald ash borer begins in state parks, Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Firewood Pests, Missouri Department of Conservation
Emerald Ash Borer, cooperative effort of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio with the United States Department of Agriculture
Emerald Ash Borer Hot Issues, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Emerald Ash Borer species profile, United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

State Parks/Historic Sites Home Page