Wisconsin DNR wants tighter firewood restrictions

MADISON (AP) -- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials plan to ask their board for permission to tighten restrictions on firewood movement.

Current DNR rules prohibit people from bringing firewood onto state property that isn't certified as treated for disease, came from outside the state or came from further than 25 miles away.

DNR foresters now want to amend those rules to ban firewood from further than 10 miles away and lift the out-of-state prohibition. They say the 10-mile boundary will slow the spread of invasive species such as the emerald ash borer and make the out-of-state ban unnecessary.

DNR officials plan to ask the Natural Resources Board at an Oct. 24 meeting in Madison for permission to draft the new regulations.