BUYING FIREWOOD--A CONSUMER GUIDE

There are a number of Orange County businesses that sell firewood in quantity. For some, selling wood is the main order of business; for others, including some tree services, it is a sideline. Don Sayles, owner of one of the county’s largest firewood sellers, Woodshed Firewood in Orange, has some tips for buyers: Make sure the wood is already seasoned, a process that takes months. Ask the seller exactly how much wood is in a cord; some businesses, Sayles said, sell less than the standard 128 cubic feet (a stack of wood 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet).

Softwoods, he said, light easier than hardwoods but do not burn as long; Sayles recommends getting a mixture, with softwoods for starting the fire and hardwoods for sustaining it. Below is a sampling of county firewood sellers and their prices for a cord of different types of wood. Prices shown do not include delivery unless otherwise noted, although all the businesses listed do offer delivery. Quantities less than a cord are available, although some sellers have a minimum amount for delivery. Because of fluctuations in supply, prices are subject to change.

Business Name City Phone Number Woodshed Firewood Orange (714) 974-3256 A&L; Firewood Newport Beach (714) 646-2887 The Woodpile Orange (714) 921-2100 Tree Top ** Orange (714) 771-5729 Harden’s Building Supply Fullerton (714) 871-3867 Jim Gillilan Firewood ** Garden Grove (714) 636-8561 Ted’s Firewood ** Anaheim (714) 529-0428

Business Name Oak Eucalyptus Pinyon Cedar Pine Orange Woodshed Firewood $289 $209 $209 $194 $199 n/a A&L; Firewood 260 180 175 n/a 155 n/a The Woodpile 235 180 180 n/a n/a 200 Tree Top ** n/a 195 n/a 185 n/a n/a Harden’s Building Supply n/a n/a n/a 180 n/a n/a Jim Gillilan Firewood ** 280 210 n/a n/a n/a n/a Ted’s Firewood ** n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Business Name Blend Woodshed Firewood $159 A&L; Firewood * The Woodpile 175 Tree Top ** n/a Harden’s Building Supply n/a Jim Gillilan Firewood ** 160 Ted’s Firewood ** 165

n/a Wood not currently available from this seller.

* No standard mix, but different woods can be mixed; price depends on woods chosen.

**Price includes local delivery (wood purchased from Jim Gillilan Firewood and Ted’s Firewood must be delivered; The Woodpile offers free local delivery).

Source: Individual businesses