Choosing the Right Firewood for Your Florida Home

Why Firewood Still Matters in a Warm Climate

Living in Volusia County, I get asked a lot why anyone here would bother with firewood. After all, we don't exactly have harsh winters. But if you've ever sat around a backyard fire pit on a December evening with the temperature dropping to the low 50s, you know the appeal. A good fire changes the whole mood of an outdoor gathering. It draws people in, slows down conversation, and adds a warmth that no patio heater can match.

The real question is not whether to burn firewood but which type to choose. Florida's climate and local tree species create a different set of options than what you'd find up north. I've burned through plenty of cords over the years, and I've learned that not all firewood is created equal. Some woods burn hot and clean, others smoke and pop, and a few are just not worth the trouble. If you are buying firewood locally, knowing what works best for your specific use can save you money and frustration.

Hardwoods vs Softwoods in Central Florida

The first thing to understand is the difference between hardwood and softwood. Hardwoods come from deciduous trees like oak, hickory, and maple. They are denser, burn longer, and produce more heat per log. Softwoods come from conifers like pine and cedar. They light easily and burn fast with a lot of flame, but they also produce more creosote, which can build up in a chimney or fire pit.

In Florida, we have plenty of both. Live oak and laurel oak are common hardwoods that make excellent firewood. They are dense, slow-burning, and produce a steady bed of coals. I have used live oak for overnight burns in an outdoor fireplace, and it held heat well into the morning. On the other hand, pine is everywhere in Volusia County. It lights fast and gives a bright flame, perfect for a quick campfire or a beach bonfire. But if you are heating a cabin or cooking over a fire, you will want hardwood instead.

Moisture Content and Seasoning

Wood straight off the stump is green. It contains a lot of water, which makes it hard to light and causes it to smoke heavily. Fresh-cut wood can contain up to 50 percent moisture by weight. Burning green firewood is inefficient and can create a lot of creosote in your chimney. The solution is seasoning, which simply means letting the wood dry out over time.

Properly seasoned firewood has a moisture content below 20 percent. You can tell by the look of the bark, the weight of the log, and the sound it makes when you knock two pieces together. A dry log sounds hollow. A wet one sounds dull. In Florida's humid climate, seasoning takes longer than in dry western states. I have found that splitting the wood soon after cutting and stacking it off the ground in a sunny spot speeds the process. A covered stack with good airflow can season in six to nine months. If you stack it on the ground or leave it in a pile, it may stay wet for a year or more.

Common Local Woods and Their Qualities

Here is a quick rundown of woods you are likely to find from a local tree service or firewood supplier in Volusia County.

Connect with us on YouTube.

• Live oak: Dense, long-burning, excellent heat output. Good for overnight fires. Can be hard to split, so buy it already split if you do not have a hydraulic splitter.
• Laurel oak: Similar to live oak but slightly less dense. Still a great firewood choice. It grows fast and is common in our area.
• Hickory: Not as common in Florida as in the Southeast, but it is available. Burns hot and gives off a pleasant aroma. Excellent for cooking.
• Pine: Lights easily, burns fast, produces lots of flame. Good for kindling and quick fires. Not ideal for indoor use due to creosote buildup.
• Eucalyptus: An invasive species in parts of Florida. It burns hot and fast, with a distinctive smell. Some people love it; others find it overpowering.

Each of these woods has its place. The key is matching the wood to the job. For a long evening with friends around a fire pit, live oak or hickory is hard to beat. For a quick campfire to roast marshmallows, pine works fine.

How Much Firewood Do You Really Need?

A common mistake people make is buying way too much firewood at once. A full cord is 128 cubic feet, which is a stack four feet high, four feet wide, and eight feet long. That is a lot of wood. For most homeowners in Volusia County who use a fire pit maybe once or twice a week in the cooler months, a quarter cord or a half cord is plenty for the season. I have seen people buy a full cord of green wood, only to find it still wet the following year because they had nowhere dry to store it.

If you are buying firewood for the first time, start with a small amount from a reputable seller. Check that the wood looks dry and that the bark is starting to peel. Ask when it was cut. Good sellers will know the answer. Avoid wood that has visible fungus, mold, or insect holes. Boring insects can hitch a ride on firewood and spread to healthy trees on your property.

Storage Tips for Florida's Humidity

Storing firewood properly in Florida is different from storing it in Arizona or Colorado. The humidity here is high year-round, and rain can come without warning. If you stack firewood directly on the ground, moisture from the soil will wick up into the bottom logs. That bottom row will rot before you ever get to burn it. I use a simple rack made from pressure-treated lumber and concrete blocks to keep the wood off the ground. A metal rack works even better because it allows airflow underneath.

Cover the top of the stack with a tarp or a plywood sheet. But leave the sides open. If you wrap the entire stack in plastic, you trap moisture inside, and the wood will grow mold. The goal is to keep rain off the top while letting the wind dry out the sides. Orient the stack so that the prevailing wind blows through the gaps between logs. In Volusia County, that usually means facing the stack toward the north or northeast.

Do not stack firewood against the side of your house. It invites termites and other pests to set up shop right next to your foundation. Keep the stack at least a few feet away from any structure. If you have a shed or a detached garage, that is a better spot.

Environmental Considerations

Firewood is a renewable resource when sourced responsibly. But not all firewood is harvested sustainably. Some sellers cut trees from undeveloped lots without replanting or managing the land. Others take wood from storm cleanup, which is actually a good source because it uses trees that would otherwise go to a landfill. If you care about where your firewood comes from, ask your supplier about their sourcing. Local tree services like Volusia Bobcat & Tree Service often sell firewood from trees they have removed on local properties, which keeps the material in the community.

There is also the matter of moving firewood across county or state lines. In many parts of the country, moving untreated firewood can spread invasive insects and tree diseases. Florida has its own set of pests, including the redbay ambrosia beetle and the laurel wilt fungus. These can be transported in firewood. The safest approach is to buy firewood that was cut within 50 miles of where you plan to burn it. That way you avoid introducing anything new to your local ecosystem.

Burning Tips for Cleaner Fires

Even the best firewood can create a smoky, dirty fire if you burn it wrong. Here are a few things I have learned from trial and error. First, always start with small kindling and gradually add larger pieces. A fire that is starved for air will smoke more. Make sure your fire pit or fireplace has good airflow. If you are using an indoor fireplace, have it inspected and cleaned regularly. Creosote buildup is a real fire hazard, especially with softwoods.

Second, do not overload the fire. A huge pile of logs may look dramatic, but it can smother the flames and create a lot of smoke. A smaller, hotter fire burns more completely and produces less particulate matter. If you are cooking over the fire, you want clean flames, not smoke. That means using dry hardwood and keeping the fire well ventilated.

Third, let the fire burn down to coals before adding new logs. Coals provide steady, even heat. Tossing a fresh log onto a dying fire can kill it. I have ruined more than a few evenings by adding wood too early. Now I wait until I see a good bed of coals before I add the next piece.

Wrapping It Up

Whether you are heating a home or just enjoying an evening outdoors, the firewood you choose makes a difference. In Volusia County, we are lucky to have access to good hardwoods like live oak and hickory. With a little care in selecting, seasoning, and storing your wood, you can get more heat and less hassle from every log you burn. And if you need a reliable source, Volusia Bobcat & Tree Service, located at 210 Valencia Rd, DeBary, FL 32713, offers professional tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, emergency services, and firewood sales. You can reach them at +1 386-675-7898 for help with your firewood needs or any other tree-related work.