Bringing firewood to Edmonton could spread tree-killing disease and infestation to local forests: city
The City of Edmonton is cautioning against bringing firewood from other communities to the capital city this summer to reduce the potential impacts of pests and infestation.
Dutch elm disease(opens in a new tab) and emerald ash borers(opens in a new tab), a species of wood-boring beetle, are raising concerns for Edmonton's urban forest due to potentially infected firewood from other communities.
Emerald ash borers can spread Dutch elm disease in wooded areas very quickly and have a 99 per cent success rate in killing infected ash trees within eight to ten years, the City of Edmonton said in a release. They are also quick to kill any new growth which hinders forest recovery.
"The main way that both Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer spread is through the transportation of firewood from other areas with infestations," said Mike Jenkins, a senior scientist for the City of Edmonton.
"Bringing firewood from other regions puts much of Edmonton’s urban forest at risk, including most tree-lined streets in mature neighbourhoods."
While there have been no signs of emerald ash borers in Alberta, there have been confirmed cases in Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Two isolated cases of Dutch elm disease have occurred in Alberta, once in Wainwright in 1998 and another in Lethbridge in 2020. In both cases, the infestations were immediately eradicated.
The city warns that while a community may seem disease- and pest-free, it is possible for the emerald ash borer and the disease to be present in firewood.
One of the main signs of emerald ash borers is newly sprouted branches growing from the lower area of the tree's trunk. Trees infected with Dutch elm disease will have brown, wilted leaves that do not fall, or yellow, drooping leaves during the summer months.
People who have brought firewood to the city are encouraged to bring it to an eco station for proper disposal.
The city also advises to report all cases of suspected Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer spread to 311 or by using the city's online sick tree submission tool(opens in a new tab).
Must Watch
Top Videos
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau asked Trump for California, Vermont to curb annexation talks
Justin Trudeau says U.S. president-elect Donald Trump kicked the tires on the potential annexation of Canada during their recent meeting in Florida, but the topic was quickly dropped when the prime minister countered with a request for two states.
1 hour ago
Liberal leadership: Carney expected to launch bid next week, Clark organizing heavily, Gould considers entering
While longtime cabinet ministers Dominic LeBlanc and Melanie Joly have officially announced they have no plans to run for the Liberal leadership, several well-known faces are organizing behind the scenes to launch bids of their own.
1 hour ago
BREAKING Two Alberta men sentenced for roles in 2022 Coutts border protest
Two Alberta men have been sentenced for their roles in the illegal Coutts border blockade in 2022.
2 hours ago
Man dies after falling into sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort
An investigation is underway by Elk Valley RCMP after a man died Wednesday after falling into a sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort.
5 hours ago
Amid tense backdrop, Canadian warship gets friendly message from Chinese vessel tracking movements
Daybreak on HMCS Ottawa began with a call over the marine radio from a Chinese warship. The call is coming from a Chinese Frigate known as the Yuncheng, the warship has been shadowing HMCS Ottawa through the South China Sea for two days and counting.
'Everything is gone': Sask. business owner loses Los Angeles home to wildfires
A Saskatchewan business owner lost her Los Angeles home as wildfires ravage parts of the city.
Trump gets no-penalty sentence in his hush money case, while calling it 'despicable'
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday to no punishment in his historic hush money case, a judgment that lets him return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.
3 hours ago
'Devastating beyond words': Paris Hilton shows remnants of home destroyed by L.A. fire
Socialite Paris Hilton shared a video showing her ravaged house, destroyed by the L.A. wildfires., 'I’m standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable,' Hilton wrote on Instagram.
Liberal leadership: Melanie Joly, Brian Gallant will not run, both focused on other matters
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will not run for Liberal leadership. Up to now, Joly was widely considered a potential successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Former premier of New Brunswick Bran Gallant also confirmed to CTV News that he will not be in the running for Liberal leader.
2 hours ago