You load up a pile of firewood in your truck and haul it to your campsite to burn during your stay. Sounds like a cost saving idea since the park will charge you for wood. But sadly what might save you a few bucks could destroy a forest.
The emerald ash borer is a small, non-native beetle first noticed in the United States in Michigan in 2002. (Scientists believe the beetle has been in Michigan for up 10 years.) A native of Asia, its larvae have killed at least 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
State agencies there and the U.S. Forest Service conduct research, eradicate the pest by removing and burning infected trees, and work to quarantine the insects. Billions of trees are at risk.
According to the Virginia Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week.
In Virginia we actually have quarantined areas to stop the spread of the EAB. It is unlawful to transport firewood from the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William as well as for the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.
To stop this and other pests from destroying our trees, I recommend two great websites. There is Stop the Beetle website, you can take a pledge to not move firewood.
•Keep firewood in the county where I buy it.
•Know where it comes from — and not accept it from EAB infested states.
•Buy firewood at my camping destination; and burn it where I buy it.
Please visit the firewood page on this website for more information about the Emerald Ash Borer and other pests.