Campers now must use certified pest-free wood in campfires, or purchase wood from park office.

OC Parks is initiating a new firewood policy designed to reduce the risk of damaging Orange County’s oak and sycamore woodlands and other trees from invasive pests.

Effective today, visitors to OC Parks’ two camping parks, Caspers Wilderness Park and O’Neill Regional Park, may no longer bring or burn outside firewood, unless it is commercially produced, heat treated and labeled “Pest Free” or “Safe to Move.” This is due to highly invasive and destructive non-native insects that could travel in firewood and decimate local tree populations.

The Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB) and Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) are invasive pests contributing to ongoing tree mortality in California, and both have been found in Orange County. These pests and pathogens can easily be moved from place to place by hiding in firewood. Campgrounds around the state are taking steps to slow the spread of tree pests by limiting the movement of firewood.

Wood from shipping pallets, scrap lumber, tree trimming services, etc. is prohibited. Gathering of dead wood or other plant material within the park is not permitted.

Treated firewood bundles will be available for purchase at the park office of our camping parks.  

Thank you for doing your part to protect the campsites you love and conserve our natural resources. To find out more about the pests and firewood, please go to:

OC Parks Campground Flier

California Firewood Task Force - http://www.firewood.ca.gov/index.html

Don’t Move Firewood - http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/

Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB) - http://ucanr.edu/sites/gsobinfo/

Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) - http://ucanr.edu/sites/pshb/

Starting Jan. 22 through late February, OC Public Works will complete a rehabilitation of the Upper Newport Bay parking lot. The rehabilitation includes removing existing decomposed granite and replacing it with sand-colored pervious concrete, installing wheel stops, and striping parking stalls. The parking lot will be closed at all times for the duration of the construction period, including weekends. Park users should plan to park at alternative locations. OC Public Works will install an electronic message board at the parking lot entrance two weeks prior to construction to notify park users. read more

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