A steady supply of firewood is essential for getting through the winter months, especially during power outages and other emergencies.
But not all wood is created equal.
Over the years, through trial and error and plenty of research, I’ve come across many different types of wood you should never burn – and I want you to be aware of them too.
15 Types of Wood You Should Never Use for a Fire
Whether you are burning wood for warmth and cooking, or clearing out trees and shrubs on your property, these are 15 types of wood you should never set alight.
1. Driftwood
If you live near the coast, gathering driftwood for your fireplace might seem like an easy and convenient source of firewood. In reality, driftwood is never safe to burn, either gathered near salt water or fresh.
When most wood burns it releases small amounts of dioxin, a carcinogenic toxin, into the air. However, the high salt content in driftwood means that it releases much higher amounts of dioxin, as the salt converts into chloride.
Freshwater driftwood may also contain fungi spores that will be released into the air when burned and can cause sickness if inhaled.
2. Treated or Painted Wood
Treated and painted wood pieces should never be burned. Wood pallets, painted lumber, and wood that has been pressure-treated have all been treated with pesticides and chemicals that are released into the air when burned.
Both the ash and smoke can contain toxic chemicals, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. Inhaling smoke from these types of burning wood can have moderate to severe side-effects.
3. Green Wood
Green wood is freshly cut wood that has not been properly seasoned and has a moisture content of anywhere between 40 to 250%.
As a source of firewood, green wood is hard to light and exceedingly difficult to burn. However, the most concerning thing is the smoke.
Because green wood contains so much water and sap, the combination of both will produce larger-than-normal amounts of smoke.
This smoke isn’t poisonous, but inhaling it can cause long-term health issues and exacerbate pre-existing conditions.
This heavy smoke can also lead to creosote buildup in your chimney. Creosote is a flammable tar-like substance, and too much of it in a chimney is a serious safety hazard as it can ignite and cause a large fire in your home.
4. Pine
Speaking of creosote buildup, pine is another type of wood that you should avoid using in your wood stoves and fireplaces.
Pines are softwood, a type of wood that lights easily and burns quickly. While it can be very useful as kindling, its high sap content will produce higher amounts of creosote than normal.
Experts now believe that under the right conditions pine can be burnt safely without emitting excess creosote.
However, if you have the option of burning hardwood or different kinds of softwood, I would recommend them over pine.
5. Poison Ivy
It should go without saying that any type of wood with “poison” in the name should not be burned indoors, but I’m going to explain why.
Let’s start with poison ivy, an allergenic plant that grows as a woody vine and can cause rashes and other adverse reactions if it comes into contact with skin.
Poison ivy should never be burned, whether you want to use it as firewood or simply clear out a patch growing on your property.
According to the University of Georgia extension, inhaling any smoke from burning poison ivy is dangerous and can cause “severe allergic reactions.”
The University of Connecticut health extension also notes that smoke inhalation can cause a rash on the entire body.
6. Poison Oak
Just like poison ivy, burning poison oak wood is never a good idea. Poison oak, also known as Pacific poison oak, is a shrubby tree that can cause blistering skin rashes.
Both poison oak and poison ivy contain urushiol, a toxic compound oil responsible for these allergic reactions.
When poison oak is burned, the smoke carries the oil, and it can stick to clothes and other items for up to a year. Burning poison oak is a serious health hazard that can require hospitalization if inhaled in large amounts.
7. Poison Sumac
Some sumac plants are edible and delicious, but – true to its name – the poison sumac isn’t one of them. Found in wet, swampy areas throughout the eastern United States, it grows as a small tree or shrub.
Poison sumac also contains urushiol, which can cause redness, itching, irritation, and more when touched. Like poison ivy and oak, inhaling smoke from burning poison sumac can cause lung damage.
Do not burn this plant under any circumstances.
8. Oleander
Another highly poisonous type of wood that should never be burned is oleander. This widely cultivated evergreen tree is extremely toxic to humans and animals as it contains the toxin cardenolide glycosides.
Consumption can cause illness and death, and parts of the plant should only be handled with gloves to avoid contact with skin.
Oleander cuttings and branches should never be used for firewood or cleared via burning. Fumes from burning oleander are highly toxic and inhaling them can cause severe health issues.
9. Mexican Elder
Native to the western United States, the Mexican elder is a small semi-evergreen tree that is sometimes used as an ornamental shade tree.
The wood of the Mexican elder contains cyanide, a poisonous chemical that occurs naturally in a limited range of plants.
For this reason, Mexican elder wood should not be burned, as inhaling its smoke could result in cyanide poisoning. Cyanide poisoning can result in serious health complications and even death.
10. Eucalyptus
Australian native eucalyptus trees may not be a common sight in the US, but if you have access to eucalyptus wood and are considering using the lumber in your fireplace, you should know the dangers of burning this plant and its trunk and branches.
While eucalyptus wood burns fast and hot, making it seem like an excellent source of firewood, it is also full of more natural oils than your average hardwood.
Burning these oils can lead to sparking and creosote buildup. The intense heat that eucalyptus wood generates can also damage wood-fired stoves in the long term.
11. Manchineel
This next type of wood, manchineel, is quite obscure but is worth knowing if you ever consider using it or want to clear it out of a property. In the US it is almost exclusively found in Florida.
Manchineel, also known as the “death apple”, is one of the most toxic trees in the world – every part of it is highly poisonous.
Manchineel wood should not be handled with bare hands let alone burned, as it will release these dangerous toxins into the air.
13. Moldy Wood
You may have some old pieces of lumber lying around that you’ve never put to use, and maybe it seems like a good idea to throw them on the log pile.
Before you do this, make sure none of the pieces have mold growing on their surfaces.
Burning moldy wood will release those spores into the air, putting you at risk of inhaling pathogens and becoming ill.
13. Wood Pulp Products
Wood pulp is not strictly “wood” but it is a wood by-product used to create paper, newspaper, magazines, cardboard, and more.
When combined with kindling, paper, and newspaper can be excellent materials to help start a fire, but it is far from ideal for use.
Embers from wood pulp products can last a long time, and when they become airborne they can travel long distances.
These embers can even be carried up through chimneys. If you have creosote buildup in your chimney it could start a creosote fire.
14. Plywood and Chipboard
Plywood, chipboard, and other cheap manmade wood products should never be used for firewood, or be destroyed by burning.
These products often contain added adhesives, paints, wood chips, sawdust, and more. When burned, all of the chemicals and toxins in these ingredients are released into the air.
Smoke inhalation could then lead to respiratory issues, skin problems, and consequences for long-term health.
15. Endangered Species
Burning endangered tree species is not dangerous to your health, but it is dangerous for the environment.
While you won’t find endangered lumber sold in stores, you or someone you know may be planning to cut down certain trees that are threatened with extinction to use them for firewood.
You may be surprised by how many species of trees like oak, maple, yew, and more are endangered – make sure you can identify trees before cutting them down for firewood!
Endangered trees are protected by law. Their destruction could lead to legal action and hefty fines.
