Heat Sterilization of Firewood for Thermal Eradication of Emerald Ash Borer
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a non-native bark- and wood-infesting insect that poses an enormous threat to North American urban and rural forests. Because of the potential risk associated with moving ash firewood infested with EAB, the interstate movement of all hardwood firewood is restricted under Federal quarantine. Communities and firewood producers are faced with challenges on implementing heat sterilization process and safely treating their firewood for interstate commerce. Working with the wood engineering group at the University of Minnesota Duluth, FPL researchers have led a joint research effort with USDA APHIS and state regulatory staff to evaluate various heat-treatment options and heating times for ash firewood and help firewood industry to successfully implement the heat treatment process as required by the new USDA phytosanitary regulations.
The completion of laboratory experiments and field trials has resulted in practical and effective heat treating schedules for thermally eradicating EAB and other non-native invasive species in firewood. The information benefits firewood producers in planning and executing effective heat-treatment on hardwood firewood and help USDA APHIS and state government to develop feasible certification and auditing protocols for better enforcing the federal regulations. The team has also conducted heat-treatment demonstrations at four firewood treating facilities in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. An on-site training workshop and a web-based training seminar were conducted and well received by firewood producers and APHIS and state field regulatory staff.
Forest Service Partners