The Arkansas Plant Board is to decide whether 25 counties will be subject to a firewood quarantine to try to control the spread of the emerald ash borer. The board is to decide by Sept. 11.
The pest was accidentally imported from Asia in 2002. It's been confirmed in Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Hot Spring, Nevada and Ouachita counties.
If the board approves the quarantine, firewood, ash nursery stock and ash logs would be affected. Officials say the proposed quarantine would include the six counties where the pest was confirmed, as well as Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Drew, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Howard, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, Pike, Saline, Sevier and Union counties.
The pest is blamed for killing millions of trees in the U.S. and Canada.
