Firewood Usage in Maryland

Using wood to heat your home or for campfires can be a pleasant and economical way to use a renewal resource and reduce, however slightly, our dependence on foreign oil. However, heating by wood can also be highly dangerous, very messy, and require considerable work. One needs to do one’s homework and research the various issues carefully before deciding.

This posting is not intended to be all-inclusive; but to provide information on some issues.

About Buying Firewood – From the MD DNR Forest Service web site

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Maryland DNR gets many calls from people either with questions about buying their season’s supply of firewood or what they can do after recently purchasing wood they were less than happy with. There are a few things you should know about wood and the laws regarding selling firewood that will help you make the best decision when making your firewood purchase.

Selecting a Firewood Dealer

When selecting a firewood dealer you should take several things into consideration.

Are They Licensed?		If the dealer is in the firewood business, they shall have a Forest Products Operators License issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Forest Service. The Maryland Forest Service can provide you with a list of licensed operators in your area. If you have found a potential dealer, you can easily check if they are properly licensed by calling (410) 260-8531.
Get References!		If you haven't worked with a particular dealer before, they should be willing to offer you references of customers they have delivered wood to before. If they're not willing to offer you a list of customers, those customers may not be happy ones.
Problems with a Firewood Dealer		Maryland law states that firewood must be sold by a cord or a fraction of a cord. This is enforced by the Maryland Department of Agriculture's - Weights and Measures section. If you have a concern about the volume of wood you have paid for you should contact them at (410) 841-5790. Note: they only handle matters where the volume of wood is in dispute.
Know What You Are Buying		Be smart when you talk with a dealer and know what kind of wood you need before you make the call. Some things to consider:
	So, what is a cord? A cord is a measurement of wood that when neatly stacked and rowed equals 128 cubic feet. This stack measures 4 feet tall by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long or its equivalent (which means stack it neatly any way you like as long as it equals 128 cubic feet).
	Is the Wood Dry? The more moisture in your wood, the less heat you will get from it. It takes energy to burn the water out of wood (it may make a hissing sound). This is energy that should be used in warming your house. Generally, the dryer the wood, the more you'll pay for it. Some indicators of dry wood: Color - look for grayness Bark - a sure sign that firewood is dry is bark that is falling off the wood Checks - as wood dries it will begin to split on the ends Touch - fresh cut wood may feel wet on the end
	What Size Do I Need? Know what sized wood your woodstove or fireplace can use. Most dealers will cut wood into certain lengths (for example 18"). To get special lengths you may have to special order it early or pay a premium.
Insect Pests		One issue to consider is that of insects. There are many “bugs” that make their home in wood, and can present significant problems when firewood is transported and stored. There are a number of invasive insects that are considered serious forest pests, and therefore the State of Maryland, as well as many other states, ask you not to transport firewood or campfire wood from place to place. Please buy and burn locally.
	Emerald Ash Borer is a serious invasive insect that, prior to Maryland's detection in late August 2003, had only been detected in the U.S. in Michigan (2002) and Ohio (2003). The insect feeds on ash trees, an important neighborhood and landscaping tree, and kills the trees one to three years after infestation. To help control the spread of this dangerous beetle, Maryland citizens and visitors are being asked to comply with the established quarantine and refrain from transporting firewood from the infested area in Prince George’s County to any other area AND from other states into Maryland. If you suspect EAB infestation, please contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture at (410) 841-5920.
	Gypsy Moth is among America’s most destructive tree pests.  The moths have caused millions of dollars of damage to forests in eastern states and now threaten Minnesota forests.  Gypsy moth eggs can be transported on firewood.
	Oak Wilt is a disease that kills large numbers of oak trees every year.  Oak wilt can be spread by insects that carry the fungal spores from infected firewood to healthy trees.
	Dutch Elm Disease has devastated our elm population, and continues to kill more elms every year. It can be spread when insects carrying the fungal spores travel from infected firewood to healthy trees.
	The Sirex wood wasp feeds primarily on pines. Injury results from larval feeding and a toxic mucus and fungus injected into the tree when eggs are laid. Infestations have been documented causing up to 80% tree mortality.
	The Asian Longhorned Beetle, a threat to hardwood trees (e.g., maples, birch, elm and ash), has been detected and quarantined in New York, New Jersey and Ontario, where eradication efforts are underway. It was also detected in Illinois, but was eradicated. (from the Minnesota Department of Forestry web site)

Wood Values

Not all firewood is created equal. The chart below is from the Forestry For The Bay general email update 12/2/08:

Firewood performance can differ from species to species. The type of tree you use for burning can vary widely in heat content, burning characteristics, and overall quality.

Wood Heating Values

Definitions of Chart Terms

Density - wood's dry weight per volume. Denser or heavier wood contains more heat per volume.

Green Weight - the weight in pounds of a cord of freshly cut wood before drying.

mmBTUs - million British Thermal Units. Wood's actual available heat measured in BTUs.

Coaling - wood that forms long-lasting coals are good to use in wood stoves because they allow a fire to be carried overnight effectively.

Common Name	Density-lbs/cu.ft.	Pounds/cd. (green)	Million BTUs/cd.	Coaling
Hickory	50	4,327	27.7	good
Osage-orange	50	5,120	32.9	excellent
Black locust	44	4,616	27.9	excellent
White oak	44	5,573	29.1	excellent
Red oak	41	4,888	24.6	excellent
White ash	40	3,952	24.2	good
Sugar maple	42	4,685	25.5	excellent
Elm	35	4,456	20.0	excellent
Beech	41		27.5	excellent
Yellow birch	42	4,312	20.8	good
Black walnut	35	4,584	22.2	good
Sycamore	34	5,096	19.5	good
Silver maple	32	3,904	19.0	excellent
Hemlock	27		19.3	poor
Cherry	33	3,696	20.4	excellent
Cottonwood	27	4,640	15.8	good
Willow	35	4,320	17.6	poor
Aspen	25		18.2	good
Basswood	25	4,404	13.8	poor
White pine	23		15.9	poor
Ponderosa Pine		3600	16.2	fair
Eastern Red Cedar	31	2,950	18.2	poor

Keep in mind it is rare to find a firewood dealer who is selling a cord of a specific species of wood. Most dealers sell “mixed hardwoods”, which can vary in species content and BTU value.