Features of different trees to consider when choosing firewood
Softwoods: Only when seasoned; good for kindling, quick cooking fire, split easily, shave readily, catch fire easily. Wood growing along streams is usually softwood, so driftwood is usually a bad choice unless available in large quantities.
| Example | Special characteristics |
| Balsam fir, basswood, white pines | Quick fires soon spent |
| Gray (labrador), pine, (jack pine) | Considered good fuel where hardwoods are scarce |
| Tamarack | Good when seasoned |
| Spruce | Poor fuel, kindles easily, good for fire building |
| Pitch pine | Most flammable of all woods when dry, will hardly burn in green state |
| Yellow pine | Burns well |
| Red cedar | Hard to ignite, start with small pieces |
Hardwoods: Best fuel
| Example | Special Characteristics |
| Northern – hickory, green or dry | Hot fire, lasts a long time, bed of hard coals that lasts for hours |
| South – oak and holly, chestnut oak, overcup, white, blackjack, post and basket oaks, pecan, ironwood, magnolia, tulip, catalpa, willow | Poor fuels |
| Dogwood, applewood | Burns to characteristic white ash |
| Black birch: in order of black, yellow, red, paper, white | Oil in birch assists combustion |
| Seasoned chestnut, yellow poplar | Hot fire, crackle, no coal |
| Sugar maple | Ignites easily, clear steady flames, leaves good coals |
| Locust, mulberry (excellent night wood) | Lasting fuel, easy to cut, splits well when green, thick bark takes fire readily, wood burns slowly, leaves good coals |
| White ash | Easy to cut and split, light to carry, normally dry (green wood lights), |
| Sycamore, buckeye | Good fuel when seasoned, will not split |
| Northern poplar (large toothed aspen) | Dry, gives off intense heat with nearly no smoke, lasts well, does not blacken utensils, good cooking fire. |
| Alder | Burns easily, does not last long |
| Scarlet, willow oaks, white elm, slippery elm | BAD FUELS |