Southern California Club Xterra

Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX General Discussion => Topic started by: GreenGoon on October 07, 2015, 05:30:00 PM

Title: Firewood Caution
Post by: GreenGoon on October 07, 2015, 05:30:00 PM
County of Los Angeles Fire Department
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: FIRE CAPTAIN KEITH MORA
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE (323) 881-2413
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
FIRE CHIEF DARYL L. OSBY
1320 N. Eastern Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90063

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: LACoFD
Public Information Office
(323) 881-2413

Los Angeles County Update  Goldspotted Oak Borer Infestation
Los Angeles County, CA  The Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB), an invasive beetle that has killed thousands of oak trees in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange counties since 2004, has now been detected in Los Angeles County. The GSOB was discovered in northern Los Angeles County in the unincorporated community of Green Valley. Because GSOB is transported in oak firewood, it is critical that Californians keep firewood local and not move it out of the area where it was cut.

This new detection of GSOB represents the third long-distance movement of the beetle from its known areas of infestation in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange Counties. It is believed to have made the jump from the current zone of infestation to Los Angeles County through the movement of infested firewood. Any community that has coast live oaks, the most prevalent oak species in Los Angeles County, is vulnerable to a GSOB infestation. Some of the communities that could be impacted include Altadena, Pasadena, Santa Clarita, and Malibu.

The Fire Department, the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures, and other County Departments are collaborating with University of California Cooperative Extension, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and the US Forest Service to develop a response plan for GSOB in Los Angeles County. These infestations can be very costly to control and they have the potential to devastate our oak woodlands, our communities, and individual properties.

The County of Los Angeles and CAL FIRE will continue to coordinate with other agencies, adjacent counties, and other groups monitoring the GSOB in California until the infestation has been mitigated.

Some immediate steps that the public can take to prevent the spread of the GSOB include:
Buy it where you burn it, use firewood from local sources.

Leave firewood at home and do not transport firewood to recreational cabins, campgrounds, or parks.

Go to www.gsob.org to learn more about the GSOB. Inspect cut wood and if infested, refer to www.gsob.org for guidelines on reporting, management, and disposal.

If you suspect a GSOB infestation on your property, please contact the Department's Forestry Division at (323) 890-4330.
Title: Re: Firewood Caution
Post by: Ghost65 on October 08, 2015, 06:04:13 AM
Tom...and idea if this covers retail firewood?  I would assume that is safe?
Title: Re: Firewood Caution
Post by: knightrider on October 08, 2015, 10:28:12 AM
retail(grocery stores) firewood is almost always pine.  red and white oak is normally pretty expensive.  

most firewood places sell avocado/eucalyptus mix, as its both in abundance due to farmers and residential tree removal.  

normally i will buy a 1/2 cord and it lasts a couple years of camping and cold night fireplace duty.  
avocado is soft and starts easy
eucalyptus is hard and burns hot and long.

best practice if you are buying retail firewood for camping is to buy it close to where you will be burning it, within reason.  i think if you are buying your wood within an hours drive of your destination, it will come from the same place as any place closer to your destination. 

The desert is an exception to this rule imo, no trees to infest and i'm not bringing oak.
Title: Re: Firewood Caution
Post by: PainRoller on October 08, 2015, 10:57:34 AM
avocado is soft and starts easy
eucalyptus is hard and burns hot and long.

(http://cf.chucklesnetwork.com/items/3/7/1/0/9/original/i-dont-always-make-jokes-but-when-i-do-its-always-thats-what-she.jpg)
Title: Re: Firewood Caution
Post by: RBduffer on October 08, 2015, 01:08:54 PM
Hey Jordan,
 FYI;  The firewood is always free at my place.  Any time you're by...


PainRoller: If you wern't a girl, I would have to 'moderate' that post >:D

As it is though, pretty darn funny ;D
Title: Re: Firewood Caution
Post by: PainRoller on October 08, 2015, 02:23:18 PM
PainRoller: If you wern't a girl, I would have to 'moderate' that post >:D

As it is though, pretty darn funny ;D

(http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2013/08/JULES/GIFS/Funny-gifs-aww-snap.gif)
Title: Re: Firewood Caution
Post by: GreenGoon on October 08, 2015, 06:17:38 PM
Wood bought by the chord has been part of the problem for spreading the Oak Borer. Wood bought by the pick up truck has been a bigger problem. Though Eucalyptus is probably the most common hardwood sold in Southern California, there is some black oak and live oak that makes its way into the mix. The best thing you can do is buy the wood near where you are going to burn it. The 1 hour rule of thumb may not always work as parts of Riverside County are well within an hour of the Angeles and San Bernardino National forests. Ass Jordan stated, you don't need to worry so much about this when you are camping in the desert. Wood bought in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange County is at risk for spreading the GSOB.
Title: Re: Firewood Caution
Post by: CAWoody on October 09, 2015, 09:42:19 AM
Wood bought by the chord has been part of the problem for spreading the Oak Borer. Wood bought by the pick up truck has been a bigger problem. Though Eucalyptus is probably the most common hardwood sold in Southern California, there is some black oak and live oak that makes its way into the mix. The best thing you can do is buy the wood near where you are going to burn it. The 1 hour rule of thumb may not always work as parts of Riverside County are well within an hour of the Angeles and San Bernardino National forests. Ass Jordan stated, you don't need to worry so much about this when you are camping in the desert. Wood bought in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange County is at risk for spreading the GSOB.

While this is all great information, I think it's a little harsh to call Jordan and A$$. He's only trying to help clarify things. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Firewood Caution
Post by: GreenGoon on October 09, 2015, 04:31:23 PM
Ha! Oops, nice catch Tim!  :-X I meant As
Title: Re:
Post by: knightrider on October 11, 2015, 09:55:37 PM
It's kinda true though so no hard feelings :)

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