Have a Good Campfire!

• Firewood
  Other Rules
  Safety

Visiting or singing around a blazing campfire and roasting marshmallows are among the experiences that make for a memorable camping trip. Be sure you know the updated firewood facts, rules, and advice, including what types of firewood are allowed.

Firewood Rules

Emerald ash borers are insects which have killed more than 8 million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. The borers move quickly into new areas, far from where they were, on firewood that people carry from place to place. Emerald ash borer was discovered in Wisconsin for the first time in early August, 2008.

In an effort to stem the spread of emerald ash borers, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has approved a rule limiting firewood brought into Wisconsin state parks and forests and other DNR lands.

To slow the spread of emerald ash borers and other invasive pests and diseases, visitors may NOT bring firewood onto Wisconsin state parks, forests and other DNR managed lands from:

• Outside of Wisconsin
• More than 50 miles away from the campground or property
• State and federal emerald ash borer quarantined areas, regardless of whether they are within 50 miles of the property. Wisconsin quarantined counties include Ozaukee, Washington, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan Counties. (To zoom in on details or print this map, open it in PDF format [PDF, 287KB].
  

Dimensional lumber scraps such as two-by-fours or two-by-tens that are unpainted, untreated, and do not contain glues are exempt from the rule.

Under state and federal laws, you may be fined up to $1,000 for moving hardwood firewood from the quarantined counties listed above above or from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Lower Michigan, portions of Upper Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. Fines are higher for repeat or commercial violations.

Everyone is urged NOT to move firewood in order to help slow the spread of this pest and protect everyone's property in the state. You can buy locally-grown firewood in or near most state park and forest campgrounds. For more information, see firewood facts, rules, and advice or ask the park or forest office. If you bring your own wood from nearby, bring only what you'll use.

Other Campfire Rules

In Wisconsin state parks and forests, fires are allowed in authorized fireplaces or rings only. Do not leave fires unattended; extinguish all fires before leaving the campsite. Burning of household refuse is prohibited.

Campfire Safety

Don't become complacent about fire. Watch children very closely when near a fire. When setting up to use an area, become aware of the location of the fire ring.

Watch the wind direction to ensure sparks aren't getting on flammable materials. Put the fire out if wind changes begin to cause concern. Don't remove hot materials from the fire ring or grill. Make sure the fire is out and the grill or fire ring cool before leaving the area. If using your own grill, place the coals in an available park or forest grill or fire ring or at designated disposal sites.