Washington’s Emerald Ash Borer Detection: Keep Firewood Decisions Local

A newly confirmed tree pest in Washington is a reason to review how wood is moved—not a reason to label every declining tree with the same diagnosis. The Washington Invasive Species Council says the state’s first emerald ash borer detection occurred in Vancouver in August 2026. That location is in southwest Washington; the finding alone does not establish an infestation on a Snohomish County property.

The council’s emerald ash borer information page explains that the insect attacks ash trees and can travel in wood materials, including logs and firewood. Its prevention guidance is to buy firewood at the destination instead of transporting it from the place where it was harvested.

Add wood handling to the work discussion

When arranging tree work, ask what will happen to the cut material. Will it remain on the property, be hauled to a receiving facility, or be offered as firewood? Put the intended destination and responsibility in the work discussion before the crew arrives. If a pest is suspected, ask the appropriate agency and a qualified tree professional what the current requirements mean for that material. Do not assume ordinary chipping, storage or hauling is a verified treatment.

Record observations without diagnosing the tree

• Identify the tree if you can do so reliably; otherwise ask for identification.
• Photograph the whole tree and visible changes from a safe position.
• Keep the location and date with the photographs.
• Use the state council’s reporting route when you have a suspected invasive-species sighting.

Do not strip bark, climb or cut into a tree to complete a report. Similar-looking symptoms can have different explanations, and a photograph does not settle the diagnosis. Follow the reporting instructions and let the responsible specialists decide what further information is needed.

Keep the scale of the news clear

A statewide detection notice, a confirmed local observation and a treatment recommendation are three different things. Keep them separate when discussing your property. The practical next step is a documented wood-handling plan and a current official source—not a blanket assumption that every ash tree needs removal.

Reused editorial illustration of tree-debris work; it does not depict emerald ash borer, an infested tree or an approved pest-treatment method.