DACF Home → Bureaus & Programs → Maine Forest Service → About Us → Forest Health & Monitoring → Invasive Threats to Maine's Forests and Tree → Firewood Order
Emergency Order Restricting Transportation of Firewood Into the State of Maine
Emergency Order
Background
Emerald ash borer (EAB), found in Maine in 2018, and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), found nearby in Massachusetts, are among dozens of destructive organisms that move readily in tainted firewood. Singly and collectively, these non-native species have the potential to cause significant harm to Maine’s forests. The introduction and spread of these tree killers through Maine harms wildlife habitat and other forest-dependent resources. The transportation of firewood aids the long-distance spread of damaging forest insects and diseases from infested areas to other states and regions. It increases the spread beyond their normal biological dispersal rate. Although Federal quarantines on the export of certain firewood are in place in a number of states, the spread of these damaging agents continues.
Since many campers come to Maine transporting firewood from their home states, the Legislature determined that these facts together create an emergency. The Legislature passed legislation effective April 1, 2010, addressing this emergency. In PL 2010, Chapter 585, the Legislature specifically instructed the Director of the Bureau of Forestry to impose restrictions on the transportation of firewood as may be required to preserve the public peace, public health and public safety. The Director of the Bureau was directed to work closely with the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands to protect the State’s forests from the introduction of the EAB and the ALB.
On August 31, 2010, the Director of the Bureau of Forestry, pursuant to the authority granted by 12 M.R.S. § 8305 (as amended by PL 2010, Ch. 585), issued the initial Emergency Order regulating the import of firewood. That initial Order, which was slated to expire after 120 days, has been periodically reissued.
Where the final regulations have not yet been put in place, to protect Maine’s forest resources and wildlife from the introduction and spread of these destructive insect pests, the Director of the Bureau of Forestry must take immediate action and hereby reissues and amends the Emergency Order pursuant to the authority granted by 12 M.R.S. § 8305 (as amended by PL 2010, Ch. 585).
View | Download (PDF | 126 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions
View | Download (PDF | 200 KB)
Firewood Disposal Drop-off Sites
Maine Forest Service Offices
Augusta - Bolton Hill Facility
2870 North Belfast Ave, Augusta: (207)
624-3700
Show Map
Gray
356 Shaker Road, Gray: (207) 657-3552
Show Map
West Paris
131 Bethel Road, West Paris: (207) 674-2442