Firewood

Firewood is a safe, environmentally-conscious, and comparatively cheaper source of heat energy.

Heat systems based on firewood can be much more resilient than others. For instance in colder temperatures propane tends to contract, and the electrical grid can fail. This traditional way of heating keeps electricity available for other, perhaps more sophisticated energy needs.

Across a complete lifecycle, firewood has a low to neutral carbon intensity, as trees re-grow. It is a renewable resource. This is in sheer contrast with fossil fuels –including the diesel and liquid natural gas (LNG) powering our electrical grid in the winter, which add ancient carbon to the atmosphere. Harvest of firewood in the Yukon is tightly controlled, and sustainable management requires that firewood be available to all for current and future generations. Of the fraction of Yukon's forests that is under a Forest Management Plan, each year a small part is made available for sustainable harvest. Generally, only 10-12% of this allocation is harvested –well below the forest's capacity to regenerate.

Firewood currently is by far the most cost-effective source of heat energy in the Yukon. It supports the local economy, keeping Yukoner's money in the territory and avoiding capital drain. As well, targeted firesmarting activities and removal of dead-standing trees have proven extremely effective at reducing fire hazard, keeping our communities safe.

Types of firewood

In the Yukon, firewood is primarily sourced from dead-standing beetle-kill or fire-kill. Firesmarting activities also currently provide some firewood, as well as a minor fraction of green-standing harvest. Our firewood is made of spruce with some pine, and no poplar.

Our main types of firewood are:

A cord of wood measures 4' x 4' x 8', or 128 cu ft. Firewood is primarily available July-October: outside of coldest temperatures, and on dry terrain.