If you are like me and think a campfire is one of the best things about camping, then firewood is a necessity. But, before you pack up firewood and haul it to the campground, check ahead to see if there are any restrictions.

For example, here in Wisconsin the state has been trying hard to keep the Emerald Ash borer, a nasty little green beetle that kills ash trees at an alarming rate, out of the state. One of the ways the state was trying to keep the beetle out of the state was by banning firewood from out of state and by only allowing in state firewood from up to 50 miles away from the campground.

It was an effort that was successful until this summer when it was discovered in two Wisconsin counties. Now firewood restrictions are even tighter. I live in a county that has been quarantined which means I can’t take any firewood out of my county. In addition, the northern half of the state has banned firewood from the the entire southern half of the state.

The restrictions may seem a little over zealous, but I can understand them. The emerald ash borer has been in the state of Michigan since 2002 and has killed over 40 millions ash trees during that time, which is pretty devastating.

For me it means I now have to buy all my firewood when going camping.

Truthfully, I don’t mind buying it as much as I mind getting crappy firewood. It’s hard to find dry hardwood. Usually it’s wet wood that smokes and smolders instead of burning or wood that burns so fast it’s practically gone by the time I’ve grabbed a beverage and sat in a chair by the fire. But I guess that’s a small price to pay to try and keep the ash trees in the state from getting killed.

The bottom line with this whole story of mine is that other states, or portions of states, may also have firewood restrictions that you may not be aware of.

If you typically take firewood with you when you go camping, take a minute to call ahead and check for restrictions. Because if you bring firewood into a banned area, it will be immediately be confiscated and you could possibly be fined (yes, it’s one of those situations where ignorance of the rules doesn’t matter), although I haven’t yet heard of anyone being fined.

And, if you’re one of those people that think firewood restrictions are dumb and you want to smuggle firewood in anyway, keep in mind the price you pay for it could be high even if you don’t get caught. Because if there is a firewood restriction or ban due to an invasive bug or dry weather, and millions of trees are killed as a result, you’ll pay for it somehow because if the state or federal government has to replant trees the money will come from us - the taxpayers.

Right now the emerald ash borer is of a concern in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Missouri, Maryland and Wisconsin. The first North American infestation occurred in Ontario, Canada and was likely brought in from its native Asia via wood packing materials.

But, even if you don’t live in one of the currently affected states, the bug could spread. States that border any of the affected states are obviously the most at risk so if there are restrictions or bans in place where you live or where you camp, please observe them.

Visit emeraldashborer.info for more information.