So you have a new wood stove or outdoor fire pit you’re planning to put to use. Or maybe you’d like to toast marshmallows on that camping trip you’ve been planning? Either way, if you’re building a wood fire, it’s important to remember that not every piece of timber makes good fuel.
You may already know not to burn trash like coated, painted, or pressure-treated wood. Doing so can release toxic or harmful chemicals into the air, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. But even when choosing between two logs, there are greener (and less green) options out there. Here are some tips on firewood NOT to buy.
Note: None of the advice below applies to the netting- or plastic-wrapped bundles of firewood sold in stores and marked kiln-dried or heat-treated. If you only need a little wood, bagged commercial firewood is often a good and safe choice as the high-quality hardwood will burn hot and clean.
Green Wood
When a living tree is cut down, the timber needs to age or "season" for a minimum of six to nine months before burning. Freshly cut wood, called green wood, is loaded with sap (mostly water) and needs to dry out first. It’s hard to light and once you get it going, it burns very efficiently and smokes horribly.
If you’re unsure if the wood is green, ask the seller when it was cut. You can also check the bark: firmly attached bark that’s still sticky with sap when you nick it is a bad sign.
Big Wood
Don’t buy firewood that's too long to fit easily inside your fireplace or fire pit. If it’s more than 5 inches in diameter, you will need to recut or split it before you can using. The work is great exercise, but if you just want a quick fire, it’s definitely a drag.
Non-Local Wood
If you live in, or are visiting an area currently affected by invasive wood pests, ask the seller where the wood was cut. If it was cut or stored more than even a few miles away, you should leave the firewood where it is and keep looking.
According to Leigh Greenwood, campaign manager for the Don’t Move Firewood Campaign, firewood that travels too far is the number one way that invasive insects and diseases rapidly spread. Those species include the emerald ash borer, the Asian longhorned beetle, and the goldspotted oak borer.
Though the pests travel slowly on their own, moving an infected log can put new forests at risk and undermine conservation efforts. Millions of trees and thousands of acres of forest have been seriously damaged or even killed by these non-native pests.
New outbreaks almost always originate in or near public campgrounds or link back to a homeowner who bought firewood from an infested area. David Adkins, an inspection manager with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, says that if you have any suspicions, buy only enough for a single fire and follow the "use it all, burn it all" rule.
"Don’t leave questionable wood lying around, and certainly don’t take any home with you from a distant campground," he says. If you’re not sure whether your area or nearby areas are affected, contact your state’s Department of Agriculture or visit Don't Move Firewood to find out.
Soft Wood
Ask the seller what kind of wood it is. Trees like pines, firs, or cypress have "soft" wood, which burns fast, leaves few coals, and makes a lot of smoke that can coat your chimney with soot (not a safe thing in the long run). Seasoned softwood is okay for outdoor fires, but you may want to avoid it if a fireplace is involved or you want a long-lasting fire or coals to cook over.
Driftwood
Burning salt-saturated driftwood is a bad idea as it can release toxic or harmful chemicals when burned, according to the EPA. It’s probably safer to use your beach finds for decor and mounted planters instead.
Poisons
Watch out for any wood covered with vines. Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with "poison" in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke. Breathing it in can cause lung irritation and severe allergic respiratory problems, the Centers for Disease Control state.
Oleander
Oleander shrubs thrive in frost-free climates and every part of it is toxic. Definitely don’t burn it, and don’t even use a branch to toast your marshmallow on.
Endangered Species
Blue ash, American chestnut, the Kentucky coffee tree: There are more than 20 endangered species of native trees in North America, and by their very rareness you're unlikely to find any in a batch of firewood for sale. However, you should double check this list before chopping anything down yourself.
FAQs
As far as harmful firewood types, driftwood contains dioxins (from the saltwater), and wood from poisonous trees and vines such as poison sumac and oleander can produce toxic smoke. Brazilian pepper wood is also not good to burn because of the toxic chemicals.
What wood should you avoid burning? ›
As far as harmful firewood types, driftwood contains dioxins (from the saltwater), and wood from poisonous trees and vines such as poison sumac and oleander can produce toxic smoke. Brazilian pepper wood is also not good to burn because of the toxic chemicals.
What are the worst woods for firewood? ›
The Worst Types of Wood to Burn
- Chestnut.
- Douglas Fir.
- Elder.
- Elm.
- Laburnum.
- Larch.
- Laurel.
- Poplar.
Green—or unseasoned wood—is hard to light and difficult to keep burning. If your wood smolders and burns poorly with little heat, it's probably green wood. That's because unseasoned wood has a lot of liquid inside. Green firewood contains up to 25% moisture content that, when burned, can cause corrosion in the flue.
What woods are toxic for pyrography? ›
Poisonous Woods
Obviously (but just in case), don't burn any wood for pyrography with “poison” in the name – like poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak.
What trees make bad firewood? ›
Typed of Wood That Don't Burn Well in Your Fireplace
- Willow: Willow doesn't burn hot and tends to produce exorbitant amounts of smoke.
- Alder: This wood is just a lot of work for no results. ...
- Chestnut: Produces a lot of smoke and a weak flame.
- Gum: Prone to producing sparks, which can become a fire hazard.
Contrary to popular opinion, the hardwood's, like oak and poplar , created MORE creosote than the softwoods, like tamarack and pine. The reason for this, is that if the softwoods are dry, they create a hotter, more intense fire. The draft created by the hotter fire moves the air up the chimney faster!
What is the hottest firewood? ›
Which Types of Firewood Burn The Hottest?
- Osage orange, 32.9 BTUs per cord.
- Shagbark hickory, 27.7 BTUs per cord.
- Eastern hornbeam, 27.1 BTUs per cord.
- Black birch, 26.8 BTUs per cord.
- Black locust, 26.8 BTUs per cord.
- Blue beech, 26.8 BTUs per cord.
- Ironwood, 26.8 BTUs per cord.
- Bitternut hickory, 26.5 BTUs per cord.
Conifer wood tends to spit excessively when fresh, so is best used for sealed wood burning stoves, again there are exceptions. Many conifers also cause an oily, sticky 'soot' to form inside the chimney which can increase the risks of chimney fires.
What are the cleanest logs to burn? ›
Kiln-dried logs with less than 20% moisture are best for your log burner because your fire will start easily, the logs will burn hotter and for longer, and you will minimise the smoke emitted, which is much better for your health! The bonus is less soot left on your log burner so you can clean it less often!
We recommend opting for well-seasoned wood, such as oak or maple, as it ensures a slow and consistent burn in your wood stove. Additionally, dry firewood with minimal moisture content is essential for preventing excessive smoke and ensuring an extended fire burn time.
What firewood pops the most? ›
Not only does fir and pine smell like Christmas trees, these types of logs create a pleasant crackle and pop in your fire. These are softwoods which dry quickly, are easy to split, and create lovely crackling fires. Before burning fir or pine, be aware that the popping throws a lot more sparks than other firewood.
What is the longest burning firewood? ›
Seasoned hardwoods make the best firewood. Hardwoods like oak, cherry and maple are denser than softwoods like pine or cedar. Due to their density, they burn longer and produce more heat or BTUs.
What wood Cannot be burned? ›
Wood from toxic trees and woody shrubs - some trees and shrubs are just not meant to be burned (e.g., cherry, elder, horse chestnut, laburnum, oleander, rhododendron, and yew, etc.,) Wood with vines or ivy - these plants are toxic, and burning them is a bad idea.
What wood is poisonous to smoke? ›
A number of trees and shrubs contain toxins that are harmful to humans and should not be used for smoking. The toxins can survive the burning process and end up in your meat, making you sick. Some of these plants include mangrove, poisonous walnut, sassafras, oleander, yew, tambootie, and laburnun.
What wood has toxic fumes? ›
Summary
| Wood | Botanical name | Adverse reaction |
|---|
| Rhodesian teak | Baikiaea plurijuga | Respiratory irritation |
| Pau marfim | Balfouredendron riedelianum | Dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma |
| Pink ivory | Berchemia zeyheri | Bark and fruit are poisonous; sap can cause dermatitis |
| Yellow birch | Betula alleghaniensis | Dermatitis, respiratory problems |
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Once you notice your firewood's initial deep hues are turning to light tan or grey in color, this is a good indicator that your firewood is seasoned. The less moisture content in wood, the lighter in color it becomes.
Is there any wood you shouldn't cook over? ›
Knowing the type of wood needed to cook your meat is important. Dried hardwoods, fruitwoods, and nut woods, are the best for cooking. Softwoods such as pine, redwood, fir, cedar and cypress are not ideal for cooking because they contain terpenes and sap. This gives the meat a bad flavor.
What wood is least likely to burn? ›
It's probably Azobe (Bongossi, Ekki, Red Ironwood). Any wood burns hot & fast when conditions are right, however some do burn much better than others. Cedar seems to be fairly fire resistant.
What is the most resistant wood to fire? ›
There are more naturally fire- resistant woods than others. Hardwoods, such as oak, walnut, mahogany, maple, and teak, are considered the most fire-resistant wood because they are denser, therefore they burn more slowly.
