Black Ash Firewood

Black ash doesn't get nearly the attention its cousins white ash and green ash do, and honestly that's a shame. Also known as swamp ash, this hardwood grows in wet bottomland areas across the Northeast and Midwest, and it burns cleaner than a lot of people expect.

Putting out 17.9 million BTU per cord, black ash matches up with several mid-tier hardwoods. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to complain about either. It produces good coals and low smoke, two things I care about way more than raw BTU numbers when I'm running my stove all day.

Splitting black ash is about as easy as it gets. Straight grain, minimal fuss. You can knock out a pickup load with a maul in an afternoon and not feel like you need a chiropractor the next morning. Sparks are few, so it's reasonable for an open fireplace too, just always use a screen.

Seasoning runs 6 to 12 months, which is quick for a hardwood. Check our firewood seasoning guide if you want to dial in the timing. One heads-up though, availability is limited these days. The emerald ash borer has devastated ash populations, so a lot of what's available is salvage wood from dead or dying trees.

If you can get your hands on black ash, burn it. It's a solid, no-drama firewood that splits easy, seasons fast, and throws decent heat. It's a step down from Green Ash firewood in availability, but the burn characteristics are nearly identical.