What's the Best Wood to Burn in a Campfire (2024)

FAQs

What's the Best Wood to Burn in a Campfire? ›

Hardwoods like oak, hickory, and cedar make better fires than softwoods like pine and aspen. Softwoods have a higher creosote content, meaning they can be a significant fire hazard, and they also burn much quicker with less heat than hardwoods.

Hardwood, like oak, maple, or birch, burns slower and produces a longer-lasting fire. Softwood, on the other hand, like pine or cedar, ignites quickly and creates a vibrant flame. Both types have pros, but it's also essential to consider their cons.

You don't want to burn treated wood, deck lumber, painted or stained wood planks, shipping palettes, or driftwood. These types of wood have usually been treated with chemicals that can be potentially dangerous and toxic to inhale.

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.

Generally, you want a wood with a slow burn speed, that generates a good amount of heat yet burns clean, and leaves lasting coals. The best woods for this are Ash, Beech, Apple, Cherry, other fruit-woods, Cedar, Hickory, Sugar Maple, or Hawthorne.

Hardwood. High-quality seasoned hardwood is another classic material to burn in a fire pit as it burns steadily and well. Additionally, like charcoal, it produces a lot of heat without releasing poisonous toxins. And high-quality hardwoods will result in a cleaner burn, meaning even less smoke.

Cherry Firewood offers the most unique aroma

Our favorite firewood, from a best-smelling perspective, is undoubtedly cherry firewood for sale. Cherry offers a unique aroma that is sweet and lasting.

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.

Since different fire pits can be made in different sizes, some fire pits may require a little more sand than others. However, an inch or two of sand in the bottom of the fire pit is usually acceptable. Most of the recommendations you'll see from manufacturers use an inch or two of sand as a barrier.

Can moldy firewood make you sick? ›

Exposure to mold spores can trigger symptoms in people with allergic rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, and dermatitis, among other allergic diseases.

Mimosa, a popular ornamental tree that sports fern-like leaves, makes a surprisingly good wood for scrolling. The light-colored wood is highlighted by a distinct dark grain that lends an exotic look to many scroll saw projects.

The Benefits of Pine Firewood

Pine is great for starting fires, especially if it is split into kindling. The wood is easy to light because the sap acts as an ignitor and though it won't have the longest burn, it will burn for a good amount of time.

Hardwood is best. Pine and cedar snap and send sparks everywhere (beware of Christmas trees!). Never, ever use treated wood, as it creates toxic smoke and leaves toxic metals in the ashes. Plus it's illegal to burn treated wood.

Gather three types of wood from the ground.

Tinder: Small twigs and dry leaves, grass and needles. Kindling: Sticks smaller than 1″ around. Fuel: Larger pieces of wood.

Can you burn treated wood in a fire pit? Yes, any wood can and will burn. The problem with treated wood it is mostly treated with chemicals and poisonous matter.

While plain, untreated paper is generally safe to burn, avoid burning glossy or coloured paper, as they may contain chemicals that produce harmful fumes when burned. Don't Overload the Fire Pit: Place paper materials in small, manageable quantities in your fire pit.

If you have untreated plywood or scraps left over from a DIY project, these untreated woods are safe to burn. However, it is always better to play it safe. If you don't know the treatment status of the wood you want to burn, don't risk it!