State Expands Ash Wood Quarantine to Fight Emerald Ash Borer

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The fight continues against an invasive species. New York has expanded a quarantine on ash wood products across much of upstate to combat the spread of the emerald ash borer.

The beetle's larvae have destroyed tens of millions of trees as it's moved steadily east from Michigan, where it was discovered in 2002.

The state has banned untreated firewood from entering New York and forbidden moving it more than 50 miles from its source within the state since 2008 as it's tried to hinder the beetle and other pests. It had also imposed local quarantines regulating movement of ash products.

On Wednesday, it replaced the local quarantines with a single ban covering all or parts of 42 counties from western New York to the New England border.