Indiana officials have begun enforcing a new rule that places restrictions on the type of firewood that that can be brought onto state campgrounds forests and nature preserves. Phil Bloom with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, says it's intended to prevent the spread of invasive insects and other pests."There are well over one hundred pests and pathogens that can be transported through firewood movement and so on. We’re just trying our best to slow the spread and protect the resources that we have," he said. Under the new rule, campers can still bring in firewood, but it must have a federal or state certification stamp or have its bark removed. Kiln-dried construction lumber is also allowed, and some sites will have approved firewood for sale.A similar rule was put into place last year at Kentucky campgrounds to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.