WARREN – Anglers heading to the Allegheny National Forest for
the first day of Pennsylvani’s trout season are being asked not to
bring in firewood from outside the area, by ANF officials.

It has been determined that dangerous insects could be brought
into the National Forest inside firewood being transported to the
area from outside the four counties of Elk, Forest, McKean and
Warren.

The ANF has a closure order prohibiting the use of any firewood
on the forest unless it originated in those counties.

Firewood is considered as being any part or portion of a tree
that has been cut and removed from its original location and is to
be used as fuel for heating or cooking in open pit, grill,
fireplace or stove.

Violation of the closure order carries a maximum fine of ,5,000
and/or six months in jail.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has a quarantine on
bringing any firewood into the state. A quarantine means it is
illegal to transport wood (nursery stock, green lumber, hardwood
chips, bark, and firewood) from other states into Pennsylvania.

The state has also quarantined the six counties of Allegheny,
Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, and Mifflin to prohibit the
movement of any wood out of those six counties, even if the wood
still stays within the state.

Persons planning to collect firewood on site for campfires are
reminded that it must come from dead or down wood.

Following is a list of recreation areas on the ANF where
firewood can either be purchased for a fee from the concessionaire,
or, is available in the woods near a camping area.

Firewood is available as follows: Allegheny Reservoir
Campgrounds, Allegheny Reservoir Campgrounds, Dewdrop Recreation
Area, Handsome Lake Campground, Kiasutha Recreation Area, Hooks
Brooks Campground, Red Bridge Recreation Area, Hopewell Campground,
Willow Bay Recreation Area, Morrison Campground, Pine Grove
Campground, Tracy Ridge Recreation Area, Bear Creek Camping Site,
Hearts Content Recreation Area, Red Mill Camping Site, Beaver
Meadows Recreation Area, Kelly Pines Camping Site, Loleta
Recreation Area, Minister Creek Campground, Buckaloons Recreation
Area, Tionesta Lake Boat Access, Twin Lakes Recreation Area and
other Forest Service campgrounds.