A campfire on West Grand Traverse Bay in Northport, Mich., Aug. 20, 2019. (Garret Ellison | MLive).

LANSING, MI — Bringing firewood into Michigan from elsewhere would be prohibited under a proposed ban that’s intended to prevent the spread of invasive species.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is taking public comment on its proposed “exterior firewood quarantine” until Nov. 19.

Under the proposed rules, most logs used as typical campfire wood could not be brought into Michigan unless treated in a kiln or by other approved methods.

Other exemptions include kiln-dried lumber and wood chips smaller than one inch and logs or wood shipped from out-of-state sources directly to mills for immediate processing.

Mills that sell or distribute slab wood from out-of-state sources as a byproduct could continue to do so under a compliance agreement with MDARD.

The state says 140 different invasive pests can be spread by firewood, including the Asian long-horned beetle, mountain pine beetle and spotted lanternfly that aren’t presently known to be in Michigan, but have environmental and agriculture officials worried nonetheless.

Eradicating a pest or disease once it has become established is very difficult and efforts such as tree removal and repeated pesticide application can cause economic hardship for governments, businesses and homeowners, the state says.

“Harmful invasive species, some of which are invisible to the naked eye, can hide in or on firewood. While most cannot move too far on their own, these pests and diseases can be transported undetected on traveler’s firewood, starting new infestations in locations hundreds of miles away,” said Mike Philip, MDARD plant pest management division director,

“These infestations can be devastating and pose a serious threat to Michigan’s agriculture, natural resources and the environment,” Philip said.

Violating the quarantine would be considered a misdemeanor and could involve a $100 fine under the state’s Insect Pest and Plant Disease Act of 1931.

Michigan already has similar restrictions on moving firewood around between certain areas within the state in order to limit the spread of pests like hemlock woolly adelgid.

The state also prohibits the import of certain plants or wood types from other states with established invasive pests.

Public comments on the proposed firewood quarantine can be made by emailing Mike Bryan, MDARD export and compliance specialist, at BryanM@Michigan.gov.

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