Is it OK to bring firewood in from another county or state?
In Sylva, keep firewood local to Jackson County rather than trucking it over from another part of the state — the WCU rentals and older Dillsboro homes here burn plenty of it. Moving wood long distances spreads pests like the emerald ash borer, and the only wood safe to carry any real distance is certified kiln-dried and heat-treated.
Student rentals and old cottages both burn wood
Sylva's housing runs from heavily used, inconsistently maintained student and rental places near Cullowhee and WCU to the historic cottages down in Dillsboro with their older masonry chimneys. Renters in particular sometimes haul a load in from a home county at the start of the semester — and that's exactly how a beetle or borer gets a free ride into Jackson County's woods, invisible in the bark until it hatches.
Wet valley, local wood, burn what you've hauled
The Tuckasegee valley holds cold, damp air that's already hard on dampers and flue liners, and it means wood needs a good long season to dry — one more reason to buy well-seasoned local hardwood instead of a green mystery load from far off. There's plenty around here within about fifty miles.
Certified kiln-dried, heat-treated wood is the exception that's cleared to travel, since the process kills any pests. If you've already brought wood in, burn it promptly this winter rather than stockpiling it near the house. Call (828) 545-0525 if you're putting in a wood stove or insert and want sourcing help.
Fireplace help in Sylva
We install and service fireplaces throughout Sylva and the rest of Jackson County — just 50 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.