Great Smoky Mountains National Park is ratcheting down its firewood policy for campers over fears of invasive insects and fungus that destroy trees.

Firewood from six neighboring counties in Tennessee can no longer be brought into the park, specifically to prevent the movement of the destructive emerald ash borer and thousand cankers disease, an associated fungal disease transmitted by a small twig beetle.  

All state and national parks and forests limit firewood being brought in by campers to varying degrees, usually targeting areas where known invasive pests and diseases are. But some are moving to allow no firewood from any outside areas.

The latest ban in the Smokies will affect those who live in those counties and come to camp in the neighboring park.