Not only can buying local firewood help you save money on transportation costs and help keep local businesses alive, but it can also help keep the health of the county’s trees going strong.

Kansas Department of Agriculture is encouraging those who use firewood to buy locally to help prevent spread of tree diseases and pests.

Tree killing insects and diseases can lurk in what appears to be harmless firewood. If the exterior appears to be healthy, microscopic fungal spores or pin-head sized insect eggs could be lurking in the wood.

More information a is available at http://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/plant-protect-weed-control/firewood.