Keep it dry!

By CHANSE WATSON

Managing Editor

KELLOGG — There are many activities that accompany warmer weather in the Silver Valley. Swimming, fishing, hiking and camping are just a select few, but the full list could be quite extensive. Another time honored tradition by many locals is that spring-time trip to cut firewood.

Whether it be for that backyard fire pit or to heat your home later on in the year, many residents rely on having a solid amount of firewood on hand.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality understands this need and as such, they want to inform residents about how they can get the most out of the wood they cut. The main point that they are stressing was simply stated by IDEQ West Silver Airshed Project Coordinator Dan Smith, “The trick is to burn dry wood.”

Smith explains that there are several advantages to burning dry wood instead of wet.

“First of all, it’s the efficiency — it actually heats your home better. Secondly, it’s safer. It’s not producing the creosote that clogs up your chimney that causes chimney fires. And lastly … You’re not polluting the environment to the same degree you would if you were burning wet wood.”

Simply put, if wet wood is used to make a fire, a large amount of energy is used to boil away the water trapped inside. This causes the fire to not burn as clean or as hot as compared to if the wood were dry. Wet wood also can make starting a fire more difficult.

“We want people to understand that having the proper fuel for the fire, for their wood stoves, is key to heating your home correctly,” Smith added.

Unless you stumble across an already dead tree, it can be difficult to come across firewood that meets the IDEQ approved 20 percent or less moisture level. To get it where it needs to be, IDEQ recommends drying or seasoning your wood.

Tips to do this include:

- Wait at least six months and up to 12 months for dry firewood depending on the type of wood. Hardwoods like oak and maple dry more slowly than soft woods like pine and spruce. To test, bang two pieces together; dry wood sounds hollow, wet wood sounds dull.

- Cut wood to the right length. The wood should fit easily in your woodstove or fireplace. Make sure it is about 3 inches shorter than the firebox width or length.

- Split wood before stacking. Split the wood to the right width, no more than 6 inches in diameter. Splitting the wood before stacking increases exposure to air, which improves the drying process.

- Stack wood in alternate directions. This improves circulation and further reduces moisture.

- Store firewood off the ground. Build a woodshed to keep firewood 6 inches or more off the ground to protect the wood pile from moisture.

- Cover the top of the wood pile, but leave the sides exposed. A structure with a roof is ideal, but you can also use a tarp. Remove the tarp to speed up drying in the warm summer months.

Smith and IDEQ understand that some may not have the resources to follow these tips. That is why they are currently offering those that reside in the West Silver Airshed area some incentives to pick up those good burning habits.

First, Smith is in the process of rolling out the dry wood provider certification program. In it, IDEQ can come and inspect a firewood provider’s stock to see if it meets recommended moisture levels. If it does, the firewood retailer will receive a certification from IDEQ that shows the wood is up to code.

The certification is not a requirement to sell firewood, but Smith explains that it is a great marketing tool for a business.

“We want to provide a retailer with a method that he can put a little stamp on his business card that shows they are a certified dry wood retailer.”

This distinction can show potential customers that the product will burn cleaner and hotter than others. It also doesn’t hurt that it will help the Silver Valley’s air quality.

The other incentive IDEQ has is providing some wood burners with a place to store and dry their wood.

“In the grant we are administrating right now,” Smith explains, “those people that have qualified as low income are going to be eligible for two, relatively small, wood sheds.”

The sheds will be able to hold a little over a cord of wood and will give residents a way to keep their wood dry. Those interested in obtaining one of the sheds can apply at the IDEQ office in Kellogg.

If you plan to gather firewood on state or federal land, a firewood permit is required from the Idaho Department of Lands or U.S. Forest Service. The Idaho Department of Lands says that they will be making these permits available in the coming weeks.

Once a permit has been obtained, IDEQ recommends inquiring about road conditions and recommended access routes as road closures may be in place to protect roads and water quality. They also want residents to be aware of active timber sales and never remove wood from slash piles.

For additional information about firewood preparation, visit woodheat.org.

For information on how to build a woodshed, insulating your home, wood burning and air pollution, visit IDEQ’s West Silver Valley Air Quality page at www.deq.idaho.gov/west-silver-valley-air-quality.

The Kellogg IDEQ office can be reached at 208-783-5781.