FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jenny Green
Public Affairs Specialist
jgreen@nmda.nmsu.edu | Cell: 575-202-4249
Oct. 15, 2025
Keep firewood local: Help stop the spread of invasive pests
October is Firewood Month
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Moving untreated firewood across state lines or long distances can introduce destructive invasive pests that threaten New Mexico's forests, landscapes and ecosystems.
October is Firewood Month, and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is calling on residents, retailers and landowners to help prevent the spread of these hidden threats by buying firewood where they burn it.
Invasive species, from tree-killing beetles to leaf-eating caterpillars, can easily attach to firewood. Once introduced, they can wreak havoc on forests, landscapes and ecosystems. The best way to prevent their spread is to buy firewood where you burn it. If you must move firewood, make sure it’s heat-treated to eliminate hidden pests. Untreated wood, even when moved locally, can help invasive insects and pathogens get a foothold in new territory.
“Invasive pests don’t have borders. Something as simple as moving untreated firewood can have long-term impacts on New Mexico’s forests, farms and communities,” said New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte. “By choosing to buy and burn local firewood, each of us can help protect our state’s natural resources.”
Bringing firewood from another state into New Mexico is one of the main ways new tree pests can spread. In addition, state and federal agencies may have rules about bringing firewood into forests, regardless of origin.
How to help stop invasive pests:
- Buy firewood where you burn it.
- If you must move firewood, ensure its heat-treated to eliminate hidden pests.
- Ask for proof of heat treatment or certification when buying from another area.
- Burn firewood soon after purchase to reduce pest risks.
- Share this message through community networks.
Visit DontMoveFirewood.org for more information on firewood movement and the potential for pests. NMDA supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Don't Move Firewood, Hungry Pests and PlayCleanGo campaigns.
Know the law on firewood sales
In New Mexico, firewood must be advertised and sold by the cord or fractional cord (128 cubic feet total). NMDA’s Standards and Consumer Services Division enforces the state’s Weights and Measures Law, which includes how firewood must be advertised and sold in order to maintain fairness in the marketplace.
Contact NMDA’s Standards and Consumer Services Division at (575) 646-1616 for more information about fuelwood sale regulations. Contact NMDA’s Entomology and Nursery Industries Section at (575) 646-3207 for more information about invasive pests.
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