Never Burn These 8 Types Of Wood

The right choice of wood can make all the difference for a nice, cozy fire. While it might be tempting to burn whatever wood is around, some types of wood can actully be harmful when burned. Certain woods can release toxins and damage both air quality and your fireplace.

Today, we’re taking a look at 8 specific types of wood that you should always avoid burning. Let’s keep those fires burning bright and clean, with the right fuel for the flame.

Pine

Burning pine in your fireplace might sound cozy, especially if you’re thinking about using up that old Christmas tree. But wait! Pine is a softwood packed with resin, which translates to lots of soot and the nasty buildup of creosote in your chimney—hello fire hazard. Plus, it burns super fast, so it’s not the most bang for your buck, although it’s not bad as kindling.

Cooking over pine isn’t a great idea either—unless you like sap-flavored steak. But if you come across Australian pine, that’s a different story. It’s much less resinous and actually considered top-notch for burning.

Poisonous Wood

Here’s a rule of thumb: if it says “poison” in the name, keep it far from your fire. Burning wood like poison oak, poison ivy, or poison sumac isn’t just a terrible idea—it’s dangerous. The smoke from these woods carries oils that can seriously irritate your lungs and eyes.

Oleander and Brazilian peppertree are equally nasty. Breathing in their smoke or using them in your campfire can land you in serious trouble, hospital-style. Stick to safer woods and keep those hot dog sticks strictly non-toxic.

Driftwood

Think twice before tossing that piece of driftwood into your fireplace. When burned, driftwood releases some pretty nasty chemicals, notably dioxins, due to its high salt content.

Breathing in these chemicals can be carcinogenic, and cause serious health risks. While all wood releases some level of dioxins when burned, driftwood is particularly notorious for its high levels.

Green Wood

Ever tried lighting a piece of green wood? It’s as tough as trying to start a campfire in the rain. Freshly cut and brimming with moisture, green wood is notoriously hard to ignite. And if you do manage to get it burning, prepare for a smoke show that could rival a concert fog machine.

This isn’t just annoying, the excessive smoke can deposit creosote in your chimney, increasing the risk of a chimney fire. So, save yourself the frustration and potential danger by letting that wood dry out completely before burning.

Construction and Furniture Wood

Thinking about throwing that broken chair or those leftover 2x4s into the fire? You might want to rethink that. A lot of the wood used in construction and furniture has been treated with chemicals to ward off decay. Remember, some of that old wood could have arsenic in it, especially anything that was made before the 2000s.

Plus, furniture usually involves materials like plywood or chipboard glued together, and burning painted or treated wood is a major no-no due to the toxic fumes. Best keep those materials out of your fire pit and find a safer way to dispose of them.

Wood That Isn’t Local

Grabbing some firewood while on a road trip might seem like a good way to prep for a cozy evening back home, but that log might be more trouble than it’s worth. Non-local wood can bring along unwanted guests—like invasive insects and diseases that wreak havoc on local ecosystems.

Remember the mess caused by the emerald ash borer or the gypsy moth? To keep your local forests safe, stick to firewood sourced nearby. Check out regional maps that highlight areas affected by firewood transmitters.

Endangered Wood

Before you throw that log into the fire, let’s make sure it’s not on the no-burn list. Certain types of wood are considered endangered or threatened, and burning them is often illegal.

To avoid any issues, check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chart to see if your firewood is on the up-and-up. It’s a simple step that helps protect our precious woodlands and the biodiversity they support.

Rotten and Moldy Wood

Think twice before burning that old, soggy log. Rotten and moldy wood doesn’t just struggle to burn, it can also be outright dangerous. Because of their higher moisture content, these woods produce a lot of smoke, but not much heat.

Even worse, they can also release toxic fumes—definitely not something you want to breathe in. Instead of tossing them into your stove or fireplace, leave them be. They’re much better suited as homes for wildlife.