Firewood for Your Cabin Stay: Ohio Rules and Tips

A fire is half the reason to book a cabin. But firewood is one of those details that trips up a lot of guests: they run out halfway through the first night, bring a trunk full of wood from home, or end up with damp logs that smoke and hiss.

Here is what to know before your stay, from what the host is likely to provide to Ohio's rules on moving firewood and burning outdoors.

What hosts usually provide

There is no standard. Policies vary widely from cabin to cabin, so ask before you arrive:

• Is firewood included, and how much? A starter bundle or a full supply?
• Is it for the indoor fireplace, the outdoor fire pit, or both?
• Is there kindling and fire starter, or should you bring your own?
• Can you buy more on site, or should you buy it nearby?
• Are there any rules about when or where fires are allowed?

Also confirm what kind of fireplace the cabin actually has. A gas or electric unit needs no wood at all. Our guide to wood, gas and electric fireplaces explains the differences, and our look at fire pit and bonfire policies covers outdoor fire rules.

Why you shouldn't haul firewood from home

It seems efficient to throw a few armloads of wood from home into the trunk. The problem is what can come with it. Firewood can carry invasive insects and tree diseases, sometimes hidden under the bark or as eggs, and moving it lets them hitchhike into new forests. Hocking Hills is a heavily forested region, which is exactly what makes it worth protecting.

Ohio's current pest rules

According to the Don't Move Firewood program's Ohio summary, which it lists as current as of January 2026:

• Spongy moth: moving firewood out of infested areas is prohibited. The quarantine covers dozens of Ohio counties.
• Asian longhorned beetle: firewood may not be moved out of quarantined areas in Clermont County.
• Spotted lanternfly: the Ohio Department of Agriculture made its spotted lanternfly quarantine statewide effective February 17, 2026, according to Ohio State University Extension.

Because county lists change, check the Ohio Department of Agriculture's current quarantine maps at agri.ohio.gov before moving any wood.

What about the emerald ash borer?

Emerald ash borer is the pest most people associate with firewood rules. The federal emerald ash borer quarantine was removed effective January 14, 2021. That does not mean moving firewood is now fine. The Don't Move Firewood program stresses that firewood itself is a pathway for pests, whatever the specific insect, and other state rules still apply.

Buying local

Buying firewood near your cabin solves the pest problem and the trunk-space problem at once. Options usually include:

• Your host. Many sell extra bundles or can tell you where they buy theirs.
• Local delivery. HockingHillsFirewood.com, a sister site in our network, is a local option for firewood delivery in the area.
• Roadside and store bundles. Convenient, but check that the wood is dry before you buy.

Estimate how much you need before you arrive. A long evening fire uses more wood than most people expect, and running out at 9 p.m. on a rural road is no fun.

Seasoned vs. kiln-dried firewood

The single most important thing about firewood is that it is dry. Wet wood is hard to light, smokes heavily, and gives off less heat. The EPA's Burn Wise program recommends burning wood with a moisture content below 20 percent.

How to tell if wood is dry

The EPA points to a few signs. Dry wood is darker in color, weighs less than wet wood, and sounds hollow when you knock two pieces together. A cheap moisture meter gives a definite answer.

What not to burn

The EPA lists items that should never go in a fireplace or fire pit, including wet or rotted wood, painted, treated or glued wood, plywood and particle board, trash, cardboard, plastics, and colored paper. In a rental, add one more: do not burn anything the host has not provided or approved.

Fire pit safety and Ohio's burning rules

Ohio law (Ohio Revised Code section 1503.18) restricts open burning of wood, brush, weeds, grass and rubbish between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. during March, April, May, October and November. The restriction applies outside municipal limits, which describes most Hocking Hills cabins. The law also allows the governor to impose additional restrictions by executive order when conditions warrant.

How this applies to a cabin's fire pit is a question for your host and the local fire department. Ask them before you plan an afternoon fire in those months. Many guests simply plan fire pit time for the evening anyway.

Practical fire pit habits

• Use only the designated fire pit or ring.
• Check the wind. Dry leaves and wind are a bad combination in fall.
• Keep children and pets back from the fire.
• Never use gasoline or other accelerants.
• Drown, stir and drown again until it is cool to the touch.