What Wood is Toxic to Burn in North America?
A campfire is one of the best ways to spend a few hours on an evening, but not everyone knows what wood is toxic to burn. Toxic wood can cause both short and long-term health issues, whether you cook over it or simply sit around the campfire. We’re going to have a look at what wood is safe to burn and the types of wood that you should avoid burning.
There’s nothing quite like a campfire under the stars or in the firepit next to your gazebo. The crackle, the embers floating into the night sky, and the warm security you get as you share stories. Whether you use your fire for cooking on a wood-burning stove, for warmth or just to keep your spirits high, a campfire is a universal highlight of camping out.
But is there any wood that is toxic to burn? Before you get concerned that we’re going to scare you into not having a campfire, don’t worry. Most campers won’t have any issues finding firewood that is safe to use.
Wood that is toxic to burn is an important consideration though and these types of wood can look similar to perfectly safe alternatives.
Types of Wood That Are Toxic to Burn
Before we worry about the specifics, if you’re going to make a campfire you need to find wood that is not living and is also not rotten. These harbor far more toxins and moisture than dry, deadwood. These toxins can cause allergic reactions as well as make the wood smoke and unsafe to cook over or make coffee with.
Possible side effects of burning toxic wood include respiratory issues, nausea, stomach cramps, and effects on the nervous system. It’s not just cooking on this wood that can cause these and sometimes you don’t even need to directly inhale the smoke either.
Are Oleander Shrubs Toxic to Burn?
Oleander is a highly toxic plant you should pretty much avoid at all costs. Eating just one leaf off of these shrubs can kill a fully grown adult.
Things don’t get better when it comes to burning it either. This plant gives off a whole bunch of toxins that can affect any living creature around the fire. This is definitely not a plant to cook on, either.
Is Mango Wood Toxic to Burn?
This one might surprise some people. Wood from fruit trees is usually highly sought after as firewood. Unfortunately, the mango tree is an especially toxic wood to burn.
Urushiol is a type of allergen found in the leaves and sap of the mango tree is also found in the likes of poison ivy. Touching this can cause you to break out into hives or blotchy skin and inhaling the smoke of a burning mango tree can cause respiratory issues deep in your lung tissue.
Are Poison Ivy, Poison Sumac, and Poison Oak Toxic to Burn?
Okay, so the clue might be in the name here folks. If it says poison, it’s probably one to avoid burning. Because they contain the same urushiol allergen, the symptoms of burning poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak are similar to that of burning mango wood.
One complication of these plants is that they can grow around safe wood. These vines are often still alive and contain toxins or similar.
Recognizing poison oak can be challenging. It looks very similar to traditional oak and is especially difficult to recognize when it’s stripped of leaves and berries. If you want to learn more about the differences, it’s worth looking at this article.
is Driftwood Toxic to Burn?
If you’re camping by the beach, driftwood is probably going to be your most abundant source of fuel. While around you there may not be wood that is toxic to burn, there are some things we need to think about when it comes to driftwood.
Firstly, you should make sure you recognize the wood you are burning. Driftwood could have come from hundreds of miles away and may not reflect the wood in your immediate area.
Driftwood will be covered in salt. Burning this releases sodium and chloride particles, which increases the levels of dioxins in the smoke. These dioxins are carcinogenic and can cause long-term health issues which is not something you want when making campfire toast.
Is Processed or Coated Wood Toxic to Burn?
Anything with a varnish or veneer will release toxic smoke. Chipboard, plywood, particleboard is also not ideal even on a campfire.
Wood which has been processed, or coated, for building use is likely to contain an increased level of toxins.
Any varnishes or veneers on wood will greatly increase the amount of smoke they give off. This smoke will contain a greatly increased level of toxins. Painted wood should also not be burned, especially with older paints often containing lead.
Processed wood, such as plywood and chipboard, which have been glued together in some way, is also particularly toxic. These glues contain all sorts of chemicals which are hazardous to your health and can cause immediate issues if inhaled.
Types of Wood To Avoid Burning in a Fireplace Indoors
When you are making your fire indoors, it’s even more important to think about avoiding toxic wood burning. Indoors you have much less ventilation and a higher risk of breathing in fumes and smoke. You also have other issues, such as chimneys, to consider.
As well as the above toxic woods that you should avoid burning indoors, there are other things to think about. Before you even start a fire indoors, whether you have a stove or a fireplace, make sure the surrounding area is clear. A falling ember or spitting resin burning more than just your firewood is easily avoided but can be dangerous.
Avoid Burning Green-Wood
Green, or fresh wood, is simply never a good idea to burn. Before we even get onto the bad bits, it’s just really inefficient. Up to a quarter of the weight of green wood is made up of water, which takes a lot of energy to burn off. This energy would be better served going into keeping you warm.
Green wood is also going to give off far more smoke than treated wood. That smoke will most likely contain all sorts of toxins and harmful particles. If the wood gives off more smoke than your chimney can handle, you risk being smoked out in your own room.
Avoid Burning Softwood
Softwood like pine or cedar make great kindling and are perfect for getting a fire going but not very efficient at sustaining a campfire. If you want to keep your fire going overnight, you shouldn’t rely on softwood. Being less dense, it burns quickly and leaves few coals behind.
Softwood is likely to be wetter than hardwood alternatives. Being less dense, this wood has more absorbent qualities and can hold far more moisture. Softwood should be dried thoroughly before being burned at all.
Softwood has a higher resin content than hardwood, which means it gives off a thicker, darker smoke. This smoke can fill your room quickly and can clog up your chimney.
Avoid Burning Rotten Wood
Wood which has turned rotten is likely to have done so as a result of soaking up loads of water. This higher water content will give you similar issues to burning green wood.
A fire containing rotten wood will give off lots of smoke and fumes, which can clog your chimney and fill your room quickly. Rotten wood can also contain fungus or similar, which can be highly toxic if burned.
Be Careful Burning Resinous Wood
Resinous woods, such as pines and other conifers, can be very appealing to burn. Firstly, these softwoods are easily accessible and split readily into burnable chunks.
Small pockets of highly flammable resin can be exposed as these logs burn and can spit surprising distances. This hot resin can burn you or anything it lands on.
The resinous smoke can stick to the inside of your chimney and remain there, flammable until burnt off. This can usually be avoided by having your fire hot enough to burn it off, but the softwoods that resin is usually found in don’t burn as hot as hardwood fires.
Avoid Burning Endangered or Non-Local Wood
Burning endangered wood isn’t necessarily dangerous for you, but it is considered bad practice. Be aware of potentially endangered species in your area and make sure you don’t chop any down or burn them.
Non-local wood, or wood that you have brought in, can bring unwanted critters and diseases into the local area. Even moving wood just a few miles can have huge impacts on the ecosystem.
What is Hardwood
Hardwood is a denser form of wood, such as oak and cherry. These trees usually grow far more slowly than softwood alternatives. Likewise, dense wood burns slower and hotter than softwood.
Because this wood is denser, it requires more heat to get it started. Hardwood is good for keeping fires burning hotter and creating coals for cooking at a high temperature. However, hardwood does dry far slower than softwood after chopping.
What is Softwood
Softwood is much less dense than hardwood. These trees, such as pines, and spruces, tend to grow far more quickly than hardwoods and are often far more abundant.
Softwoods are safe to burn and often better to start your fire with than hardwoods. They often contain high quantities of resin which can spit from the fire. Softwoods also tend to give off more smoke and hold more liquid content than hardwoods.
Common Questions About Burning Toxic Wood
What Wood is Safe to Burn and Cook With?
Now that we’ve talked about what wood is toxic to burn and the dangers, it’s time to cover what we can and should burn. The good news is that all hardwoods and most softwoods in the US are perfectly safe to burn and to cook on.
Is Vitex Wood Toxic To Burn?
Vitex is a hardwood that burns well. There are no studies to show that burning vitex is dangerous, but you should be cautious. Some people experience skin allergies to the plant from handling and there is potential that the smoke may cause these too.
Is Mango Wood Toxic To Burn?
While wood from fruit trees is usually sought after for firewood, the mango tree is extremely toxic. This wood causes respiratory issues in the tissues around the lungs and can have long-term health impacts.
Is Yew Wood Toxic To Burn?
Yew is not commonly used as firewood because of how unusual it is to find it in abundance. This hardwood burns hot and well, but shouldn’t be used for cooking. The bark, leaves, and seeds contain toxins that are dangerous if ingested.
Is Walnut Wood Toxic To Burn?
Walnut is not toxic when burnt and is excellent firewood that burns with reasonable heat and is easy to split to size.
Is Cranberry Wood Toxic To Burn?
There is no current evidence to suggest that cranberry wood is unsafe or toxic to burn. We would urge you to be cautious though as a lot of these smaller shrubs can provoke allergic reactions in some people.
Is Sassafras Wood Toxic To Burn?
Sassafras wood is safe firewood and one which is not only really easy to split but also dries quickly. It makes for good kindling but should be handled carefully. Sassafras wood pops and spits a lot, so you should have a glass covering if you’re going to burn this wood.
Is Russian Olive Wood Toxic To Burn?
Russian Olive tree wood is safe to burn but gives off an unpleasant odor. This wood is really smokey when it’s not totally dry and it takes over a year to dry properly. It’s not likely to be top of your list for firewood.
Is Pressure Treated Wood Toxic To Burn and why?
Wood that has been pressure treated contains dangerous chemicals, including arsenic. Burning pressure-treated wood releases these toxins and just a small amount of ash can contain a lethal dose. Pressure-treated lumber is so dangerous that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers it to be hazardous waste.
Is It Toxic To Burn Creosote Wood?
Burning creosote wood is toxic in itself and should be avoided. It also gives off a corrosive and flammable substance that sticks to the inside of your chimney. The inside of your chimney is obviously somewhere you don’t want to either corrode or set on fire.
