How to Properly Store Firewood During Winter in Pembroke and Surrounding Areas

As winter settles into Pembroke, Petawawa, Laurentian Valley, and the surrounding Ottawa Valley region, ensuring your firewood stays dry and pest-free is essential for efficient and safe burning. Improper storage can lead to wet, moldy, or insect-infested wood, reducing heat output and making fires harder to start. Follow these best practices for winter firewood storage to keep your wood in top condition all season long.

1. Choose the Right Firewood Storage Location

🔹 Keep it off the ground – Stacking firewood directly on the soil can lead to moisture absorption and decay. Use pallets, concrete blocks, or a firewood rack to elevate your woodpile.
🔹 Find a dry, well-ventilated area – Storing firewood under a covered structure, lean-to, or woodshed helps protect it from heavy snow and rain while allowing airflow to prevent mold.
🔹 Keep it away from your home – While it’s tempting to stack firewood against your house, doing so invites pests like termites and rodents closer to your home. Keep your stack at least 5 feet away from exterior walls.

2. Cover Your Firewood Properly

🔹 Use a firewood cover or tarp – Protect the top of your stack from snow and rain, but leave the sides open for airflow to prevent trapped moisture.
🔹 Slope the cover – Arrange the tarp or roof at an angle so water and snow can drain away instead of pooling on top.

3. Stack Firewood for Maximum Airflow

🔹 Stack wood loosely – A tight stack can trap moisture, slowing the drying process and promoting mold growth. Keep space between logs for airflow.
🔹 Stack bark-side up – This helps shed moisture and allows the wood to dry faster.
🔹 Use the crisscross method – Stacking firewood in a crosshatch pattern at the ends of the pile increases stability and airflow.

4. Protect Firewood from Pests

🔹 Store only seasoned firewood indoors – If you bring firewood inside, make sure it’s fully dry and pest-free to avoid bringing insects into your home.
🔹 Rotate your stack – Always use the oldest firewood first to prevent pest infestations in aging wood.
🔹 Keep the area clean – Remove bark, wood debris, and fallen logs to discourage rodents and insects.

5. Bring Firewood Inside Before Use

For best results, bring your firewood indoors at least 24 hours before burning to allow it to reach room temperature. This helps ensure a cleaner, more efficient burn with less smoke and creosote buildup in your chimney.

Need Firewood This Winter?

If you're looking for high-quality seasoned firewood in Pembroke, Petawawa, Laurentian Valley, Cobden, Chalk River, and surrounding areas, Alice Forestry Co. offers hardwood, softwood, and mixed firewood by the cord.

🔥 Stay warm this winter! Contact us today for pricing and delivery options.