Lots of information discussed on 95033Talk on Firewood

And this post about different types of wood:

I've been splitting firewood and burning wood in a stove since shortly after fire was invented. We heated with 100% wood for our first 12 years up here. I've burned every wood we have in the Santa Cruz Mtns, Sacramento Valley and the Sierra that will burn. Bringing wood from other places can bring non indigenous spiders and fungi though... so buy local.

Below I've laid out my experience with the various woods available commonly here. I'd like to hear how my experience stacks up against yours. If you're new to wood burning... read up.

Madrone - The Best. Burns hot and clean. No chimney buildup and little ash. The bark is a little messy. Usually splits clean and easy. Great for hand splitting. Problem with Madrone is it is a native species and a beautiful tree. It's not really a sustainable resource. You can't always get Madrone unless one dies.

Eucalyptus - Just as good as Madrone except perhaps it burns a little too hot. If the top of your stove glows red when you turn off the lights, it's too hot. Mixing in a little Redwood slows it down just right though. You frequently don't even need a starter to get it going... just light a splintery log. That's why it's so dangerous to have growing near you . The splinters from it hurt worse than most, wear gloves to stack it. Tough and stringy to split. If it gets rained on it takes a long time to dry. It absorbs water very well. "Uke" is a fast growing non-indigenous weed that is more than sustainable to use as firewood. You can feel good about burning it up because more will always be growing in copious quantities.

Oak - Better than Buffalo Chips I guess. Way over-rated as a firewood. Burns okay but creates more ash than any other wood I've burned. Around here SOD fungus turns it "punky" if you don't burn it all within 2 years. Once it turns punky it creates even more ash if you can get it to burn at all. I burn it only if I have a dead Oak to get rid of. I would never pay for it. If you have a small stove you'll be shoveling ash every few days.

Redwood - I've had people tell me with a straight face that you can't burn Redwood. Huh... I burned at least a cord of it last year. You know those thickets of little 2-4 inch dead redwoods that create such a fire hazard around here? Cut 'em up and mix them with other woods. They burn great. I've burned thousands of them as I slowly increase the defensible space around my home. It takes only a few minutes to saw up a whole winters supply to mix in. You get to keep warm instead of paying someone to chip them up... or getting warmed by a forest fire... what a deal!

Bay - The wood burns surprisingly poorly considering how the oily leaves burn. It's okay stuff though. As good as Oak anyhow. Nasty to split. Tough and stringy. Bays near your house are dangerous. The leaves burn like gasoline even when green and soaking wet. The trunks split and fall frequently, and they rot off underground and fall. Throw a stick of Eucalyptus in with it and it'll burn great though. Bay wood gets quickly infested with powder beetles. If you leave a stick on the hearth little piles of sawdust show up under it. Good news is that powder beetles don't eat houses, just Bay. Burn it within a year or two or the beetles will turn the whole log into powder.

Pine - Around here it's usually from yard trees. In the Sierra people burn it for heat. Pine is nasty for your Chimney. Will build up a layer of tar inside your chimney that can cause a chimney fire. Mix it with other stuff to keep your chimney clean. Get rid of it. Don't get any more.

Manzanita - Be very careful with Manzanita. It looks like Madrone, but burns way hotter. You can mix in a stick now and then to heat things up... but you can literally burn a hole in your stove with it. The last time the town of Wrights burned down, that's what caused it.

Almond - Burns great. Very messy bark. Usually from old orchards in the Sacramento valley that are being replanted.

Fir - Splits easy. Burns hot, fast, and clean. Tends to pop and spark.

Cedar - More of a Sierra wood but you see it around here from yard trees. Burns hot but quick. Splits super easy. Clean to move thru the house to the stove. Surprising amount of chimney buildup.

Construction Debris - Old fir 2X4's burn great. Our old garage we tore down kept us warm for 2 winters. Don't ever burn plywood, particle board or painted wood as it releases toxic smoke.

Plastics- Don't burn plastic. EVER! Your neighbors don't want cancer.

Fire Starters

- Paper, cardboard, and paper towels.... Fine if you are desperate and have 15 minutes to get the fire started. Paper also plugs your spark arrester. So, unless you like to go up on the roof and bang it out, don't ever burn paper.

- Fatwood, available at Rural Supply is excellent. Two fatwood sticks and a match and you're lit in a few seconds.

- Duraflame Fire Starters. You may as well try to start a fire with a steaming turd. A Propane torch can get them going... perhaps.

- Propane torch- My favorite. Gets the job done, no messing around.