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Firewood Warning

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Forester issues firewood warning

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Forestry officials are warning Oklahomans not to purchase firewood from outside the state to prevent insects and diseases from gaining a foothold.

State Forester John Burwell says firewood has become a major pathway for moving invasive species. When people transport firewood, it often can transport bugs or diseases that may not be native to the area.

He says many places with invasive species problems often have dying trees that are then cut for firewood. Bugs like the emerald ash borer and Asian long horned beetle have showed up hundreds of miles from any local infestation as a result of people selling firewood.

Burwell says the emerald ash borer is a particular concern and has killed millions of ash trees in Michigan and parts of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.