Pest Free Campfire Firewood In Trabuco Canyon, Parks Says

TRABUCO CANYON, CA — Starting Monday, Feb. 12, visitors to Orange County's camping parks will be prohibited from bringing firewood into the parks unless it's treated and labeled "pest free" as part of an effort to stem the tide of insects that are devouring trees throughout Southern California.

If you've been to the forest, you've seen the tagged trees. Those marked for cutting due to the proliferation of the Borer beetles. In an effort to rein in the devastation to Orange County trees, OC Parks officials are aiming to keep the Goldspotted Oak Borer and the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer out of the parks.

The new policy applies at camping parks, Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano and O'Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon.

Experts suspect the beetles came here through shipping material from somewhere in Asia, said Bill Kirk, an administrative manager for OC Parks.

The concern is that outside firewood will carry more of the pests in the camping parks where they will feast on the trees there, Kirk said.

"We seem to have higher degrees of infestations around the more popular camp sites," Kirk said. "It's not conclusive evidence, but it indicates a nexus there."

Chemical treatments of trees are "very expensive," and cost between $3 to $8 an inch per diameter of each tree, Kirk said.

"The chemical treatments are not a long-term solution," Kirk said.

Experts are researching whether a predator for the insects can be found that does not have a negative impact on the local ecology, Kirk said.

Visitors will not be able to bring in wood:

• from shipping pallets
• scrap lumber
• tree trimming services
• any other source.
• Also, gathering of dead wood or other plant material in the park is prohibited.

But, don't despair. Visitors can buy treated firewood at the park office at the camping parks.

Photo: Ashley Ludwig, Patch Staff