Don’t bring firewood: City of Edmonton’s plea to stop Dutch elm disease

Heading out to camp this summer? If so, the City of Edmonton is asking you not to bring firewood from other communities back to Edmonton.

Doing so could spread Dutch elm disease, a pest that could devastate nearly half of the city’s boulevard and open space trees, officials warn.

“The main way that both Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer spread is through the transportation of firewood from other areas with infestations,” Mike Jenkins, a senior scientist at the City of Edmonton, said in a news release. “Bringing firewood from other regions puts much of Edmonton’s urban forest at risk, including most tree-lined streets in mature neighbourhoods.”

The city is asking Edmontonians who have already brought firewood to go to their local Eco Station for immediate disposal, or burn it completely.

According to the City of Edmonton, there has been no confirmed emerald ash borer in Alberta, but it has been confirmed in Vancouver and Winnipeg, and as close as South Dakota.

The city is also working to complete an external visual inventory of all the ash and elm trees located on private property, and inform residents on ways to protect their trees.

Signs of infestation

Emerald ash borer is difficult to detect in the early stages of its growth and infestation. The signs of emerald ash borer are very similar to signs of drought stress. One of the main signs that a tree could be infested is newly sprouted branches growing from the lower portion of the trunk of the tree, stated the release.

Trees affected by Dutch elm disease display signs like brown and wilted leaves that do not fall. They also may have drooping or yellow leaves in the summer, and individual branches with no leaves or smaller leaves than the rest of the tree.

Residents are advised to report all suspected symptoms of Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer to 311.