Firewood

Firewood in the Yukon is sourced locally from dead-standing harvest and firesmarting activities. Over the years, less than 0.1% of Yukon's entire forested land base has ever been harvested. Of the fraction of this that is under a forest management plan, a small part is sustainably available for harvest every year, calculated according to forest's capacity to regenerate. Generally, only 10-12% of this allocation is harvested –well below the sustainably available volumes, and the regulatory limits.

Firewood currently is by far the most cost-effective source of heat energy in the Yukon context. Heat systems based on firewood can be much more resilient than others esp. considering that in colder temperatures propane tends to contract and the electrical grid can fail. This traditional way of heating also keeps electricity available for other, perhaps more sophisticated energy needs.

Firewood is a renewable resources. Its carbon footprint typically is low to neutral, as forests re-grow. In the Yukon context, its carbon footprint is neutral to negative, as firewood almost exclusively is sourced from dead-standing harvest and firesmarting activities. This is is sheer contrast with the fossil fuels powering our electrical grid in the winter.

Harvest of firewood is tightly controlled in the Yukon, and sustainable management requires that firewood be available to all for current and future generations.

Forest fires are a natural part of boreal forest renewal. Targeted firesmarting activities and removal of dead-standing trees have proven extremely effective at keeping our communities safe by reducing fire hazard in designated zones.

Usage of firewood also supports the local economy, keeping Yukoner's money in the territory and avoiding capital drain.

Main types of firewood available are:

A cord of wood measures 4' x 4' x 8', or 128 cu ft. Our firewood is made of spruce with some pine, and no poplar. Firewood is available July-October: outside of coldest temperatures, and on dry terrain.