Burning Wood

Adding wood to your grill for flavor or roasting marshmallows is great summer fun – but certain woods can make you sick... 

Here are a few NOT to burn:

• Stay away from Elm, Eucalyptus, Sassafras or Sycamore wood, they can be toxic.

• Never use lumber scraps. It’s hard to know what kind of wood it is and it may have been chemically treated. 

• Painted or stained wood should never be burned – they may contain lead.

• Wood scraps from furniture or pallets can be poisonous.

• Avoid wood that is covered with mold or fungus – or at least pre-burn it down to coals before cooking with it.

There are a lot of trees and shrubs that can be toxic to humans. If you don’t know what it is, or if it’s safe for burning, stick to charcoal.