Michigan to search vehicles for firewood

9/2/2005

Holiday travelers can expect to have their vehicles randomly checked for firewood throughout the Labor Day holiday weekend.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture yesterday said it will assign inspectors to make random checks at a number of undisclosed rest areas and roadways in Michigan, similar to what Ohio officials plan to do.

Officials are cracking down on the illegal movement of firewood and other ash products transported out of quarantined areas.

The quarantines apply to areas known to be infested by emerald ash borers, tiny Asian beetles that destroy ash trees.