Anybody who’s ever driven west in the fall along Highway 70 for about two miles after the 70-100 split knows how “Firewood Hill,” in Bellevue, earned its moniker. It’s a 200-yard-long stretch that, from October until February, will usually be covered with about a dozen well-used pick-up trucks from morning until after dark, all loaded down with firewood for sale.
There are ways to acquire cheaper wood, but if you need a small amount of wood, or if you’ve simply gotta have it now, then Firewood Hill is your place. If you’ve got a truck yourself, then drive it over and start the haggling. If you don’t have a big vehicle in which to load up the wood, a number of the firewood vendors will actually drive over to your house to deliver it.
Now, there are some basics when it comes to firewood. Don’t put softwoods (pines, firs, etc.) in your fireplace. Only go for the hardwoods. And regarding those, the best type of wood is “seasoned,” which means it’s been cut for a year or so. The problem with burning newly cut wood (called “green”) is that it pops, sizzles, perspires and simply doesn’t burn well.
Firewood has different measurements. On Firewood Hill, it’s usually sold in what’s called a “run,” which fills up about 20 percent of a truck bed. Unfortunately, the price of a run can vary, but just know that a run of oak should cost about $50, $65 for hickory, which smells better.
If all you want is enough firewood to get you through a weekend, then $10 will fetch you 15 sticks of oak, while $15 will fetch you the same amount of hickory. But be forewarned as you discuss price. “Sure, I’ve seen vendors out here try to cheat customers,” says Isaac “Rodney” Staten, a Firewood Hill veteran. As long as you keep in mind the prices and measurements mentioned above, you should be fine.
At Firewood Hill and elsewhere, other measurements come into play, including the so-called “rick,” which is 8 feet tall, 4 feet deep, and 16 feet long. Better yet, a rick should fill about two-thirds of a truck bed, and usually runs about $120.
For the truly serious fireplace operator who wants a rick or more, a good option may be to call The Olde Woodcutter, owned and operated by Art Kramer. Kramer will sell you a rick of oak for only $60. Loading and unloading will cost you another $15, with another 50 cents for every mile driven. Kramer doesn’t take orders for less than a rick.
Although 90 percent of Kramer’s sales are oak and hickory, he can provide cherry and sassafras if given ample notice. Both cherry and hickory are often used to smoke meat, while sassafras is better for a more incandescent flame.
“If you’re gonna go the sassafras route, you better have protective doors or curtains on your fireplace, unless you’re not particularly fond of your rug or carpet,” Kramer cautions.
