Firewood dealers struggle to meet early demand

NEWBURYPORT — The high price of home heating oil is driving people to switch from oil heat to wood-burning stoves as a way to save money this winter. But locally there may not be enough wood to go around.

Carol Hollis of Hollis Tree and Landscaping Company in Newbury said she doesn't have much left.

"Demand is definitely up," Hollis said. "People are petrified of the economy. We had a lot of calls for green wood during the summer and probably twice as many calls for firewood this summer than in the past."

Hollis said while she has enough to burn for her own use, she is referring clients to bigger tree service companies, but even places such as Steve's Tree Removal in Maine is feeling the pinch.

"He only has about 20 cord left," Hollis said. "Pellet stoves is a big business right now too."

Dealers and timber industry specialists attribute the firewood shortage partly to competition.

Paper mills in places like Maine and Quebec are offering about $180 a cord for pulp logs that normally make good kindling, according to Stephen Long of Corinth, Vt., cofounder and co-editor of Northern Woodlands magazine. That makes it tougher for local vendors to find wholesale supplies, he said.

At Bartlett Farms in Salisbury, owner Rob Bartlett said he has already sold two-thirds of his wood and is finding it hard to balance firewood sales with preparing the farm for the harvest season.

"We have higher demand this year compared to other years," Bartlett said, noting he buys wood from suppliers in southern New Hampshire. "People started calling the middle of July. The price of oil is a big part of it; people have gotten hit pretty hard the last few years."

Willow Bend Wood Service in North Hampton has also seen earlier than usual buying for what they believe is the same reason — people are buying up firewood everywhere.

"It's common sense; the price of oil is going to be so high," Robin Mason of Willow Bend said. "A lot of people who have never used their fireplaces are planning to use them this winter to supplement their heating."

"People are trying to put their orders in, but we don't know if we can promise it," Mason said.

Bartlett said although people are buying, it doesn't mean he is pocketing extra money this season.

"Everything has gone up," Bartlett said, noting he is charging $350 for a cord of wood. "It's a lot harder to get logs now and it's all supply and demand."

While last year, Bartlett sold out of firewood before Thanksgiving, he believes it will be a lot sooner than that this year.

"I have 75 calls about firewood to return," Bartlett said. "It's hard to get to everyone while running the farm stand and haying as well. It's early this year."

Photos

Rob Bartlett and his son, Eli, 3, stack firewood at his farm yesterday afternoon. Jim Vaiknoras/ Staff photo