The best—and worst—types of firewood to burn

Burning certain beach driftwood releases sodium and chlorine ions, which, combined with smoke, can produce carcinogens. Plus, burning salty wood can corrode parts of your stove. Also—like a fallen tree at the shoreline—beach driftwood can be beneficial to the environment.

Hardwoods burn better than softwoods and produce fewer deposits to muck up the inside of your chimney or stovepipe; heavier woods usually burn the longest, and produce the most heat. And if you transport firewood from home to the cottage, you risk moving tree-destroying pests and invasives.

Burning plywood and other engineered woods—they contain glues or other adhesives—can release volatile organic compounds.

You probably already know this: dry wood is good, wet wood is not. Ideally, aim to burn wood with a moisture content that’s less than 20 per cent. Wet, green wood produces more smoke. (You can buy moisture meters to gauge wood’s moisture levels online.)

Because those vines might be poison ivy. And when you burn poison ivy, you’ll release its rash-causing urushiol oil. That means that not only can you get a rash, the airborne particles could irritate your nasal passage or lungs, or even cause a serious respiratory problem. No fun.

Split logs to no bigger than 10 to 15 cm long. This gives you maximum useful burning surface and allows your stove to work more efficiently. Don’t even bother starting a fire with anything bigger than your forearm. The wood will smoulder, it won’t burn all the way through, and the fire will be unpleasantly smoky.

This probably goes without saying, but wood that’s covered in paint, varnish, pesticides, or sealants can release toxic stuff when you light it on fire. You don’t really want to breathe in that smoke, send it into the environment, or repurpose the ash from the fire.