Crossing County Lines With This In East Texas Is Illegal

That's right, as in "against the law." What is it you ask? Firewood. Taking firewood out of the eleven Texas counties listed below is illegal. Six of the counties are in East Texas and two of them under this State mandated firewood Quarantine are Bowie and Cass. What does that mean, it means if you cut it here, you burn it here.

There's a website out there called DontMoveFirewood.org. They have very detailed information on why you shouldn't move firewood around the state, or out of state for that matter. Also, don't get firewood and bring it back to Texas from another State. The reasons are very sound when you think about it.

Firewood - Canva

Don't Move Firewood's Motto Is: "Buy It Where You Burn It"

Or, if you're out camping somewhere, burn it where you gather it, but don't take it back home with you.

The basic idea here is the state of Texas is trying to protect the trees of Texas by not bringing either new invasive tree-destroying bugs or diseases from other states into Texas, or spreading around the state something that may already be here.

Campfire - Canva

Bowie and Cass Counties Under Quarantine

As of the latest update, there are currently 11 counties in Texas that are under quarantine;

Bowie
Cass
Dallas
Denton
Harrison
Marion
Morris
Parker
Tarrant
Titus
Wise

One of the reasons behind these 11 counties being quarantined is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

EAB - Canva

The danger with the Emerald Ash Borer is their larvae feed on the outer sapwood of Ash trees, which produces galleries and will eventually kill the tree. For more details on the EAB, click here.

Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Texas Counties map - Texas Dept of Agriculture

What does "Quarantine" mean? Do not take firewood cut in our area, Bowie and Cass counties, and move to other counties or states.

Imported Fire Ant - Canva

The Imported Fire Ant (above) is another big invasive problem in Texas and has a quarantine area across almost two-thirds of the state.

Imported Fire Ant Quarantine in Texas - Texas Dept of Agriculture

Follow Through, Learn More:

A webinar was given by the Don't Move Firewood Team back in October of 2022 on the seriousness of this problem. It's a little long but worth your time, especially if you do a lot of camping or you purchase firewood from different locations.

Do your part Texas, and "buy it where you burn it." For more information, DontMoveFirewood.org.

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