Our Firewood

Our Firewood 

Local, 100 % Canadian Firewood?

The wooden panels you hit with your axes when you axe-throw with us? Well they don’t last too long after you lot are done with hurtling axes with them. We use them to for firewood for our very own fireplace inside. However when we have tons we sell bundles! Our friends at most local grocery stores sell bundles as well when we are all out. 

Instead of throwing out our targets, or being negligent and leaving them to rot in the damp outside, we gather up the wood, store it in a dry area with good air ventilation, cut it up, and use it as high quality firewood.

Our Whistler firewood is not only a bargain and bone-dry, but it is the result of craftsmanship. Our very own 100% legitimate lumberjacks who work at Forged offer their artisanal wood-chopping skills in order to create that beautiful bundle of parched and perfectly parcelled up wood… Are you as excited as us about firewood and axes?!

Watch the following video for a behind the scenes look at our inspiration for the Forged firewood process.

Okay, maybe we are messing around a little. But seriously! Our firewood is fantastic. 

What to Look for In Firewood

Don’t just take our word for it. Our claims are not empty: buying our firewood in Whistler really is a reliable option. Here are some reasons why.

1.You can see where the wood is stored in person

It’s key to be cognizant of how the wood has been stored. This is why ordering firewood over the phone is a bad idea.  Have you ever tried to burn a sopping pile of soggy wood? Its a sad and smokey experience. By viewing the firewood in person before buying you are also able to check piece length which is key for it being firewood that is convenient for your fireplace.

2. Our stacked bundles are all the same size 

Check out these perfected packed bundles!

Unlike when buying randomly piled wood, our stacked bundles can be counted, making it easy to know what you are getting for your $10. Plus they stack perfectly for easy storage. No rolling around in the back of your vehicle.

3.Our firewood is clean 

You won’t find mud or sand on our firewood due to the way it was used prior to being chopped by our lumberjacks and due to our standards for storage.

4. Our wood is bone-dry 

You can check for dryness of firewood by looking for checks or cracks in the end grain. This is not always a reliable indicator, so going by weight is also useful. Dry wood weighs a lot less than wet wood.

Bang two pieces together: if the sound is hollow then the wood is dry. Wet pieces banged together will sound dull and solid. You can also split a piece of wood and feel the exposed surface for dryness or wetness. We’ve got plenty of axes, in case you want to check.

5. We endorse sustainable firewood

Here at Forged, we like to have a laugh and play around a bit, but we are serious about having a responsible approach to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Part of this is about reducing waste. This is why we don’t throw out wood that is no longer useful within our axe-throwing lanes. Instead, we carefully hand cut it (by our lumberjacks), stack it, store it and bungle it up –  it until you need it.

What Happens When it’s Fire Season in Whistler?

In fire season you have to move the campfire to the indoor fireplace

BC and Canada in general are predisposed to wildfires, although these have been occurring at higher frequency over the last few years due to the effects of a changing climate. Seasonal fire bans are imposed in order to help curb the risk of wildfire. Seasonal fire bans are put in place when conditions are especially dry and also in advance of lightning storms.

Some years they start in Spring, others in high-summer season. If you can’t have a campfire in Whistler during your visit, we’ve got tons of ideas about Whistler summer activities, and even a few Spring activities to keep you entertained.

BC now has some of the highest wildfire-related violation ticket fines in Canada, in an effort to take a tough stand on irresponsible behaviour which increases risk to natural resources, communities and ecosystems. This includes fines of $1,150 for failure to comply with fire restriction.

Seasonal fire bans do not happen all at once, and all in the same areas, therefore it is important to stay on top of the changes. This website from the BC government gives you all in the information you need to know about where has fire bans.

If you really want to get our fire going, you’ll play dumb and simply ignore the bans. This isn’t cool with us! We really love our mountains, our forests, and our community. Please don’t have outdoor fires during the ban, and don’t through cigarette butts out your car window. Cigarette butts have caused raging and devastating forest fires in the past – we want to ensure Whistler is around for all of us to enjoy in the years to come!

How to Safely Build a Campfire

Making a campfire is about keeping it safe

If there is no seasonal fire ban and you have yourself some high quality Whistler firewood, setting up a campfire is a great way to enjoy BC in the dark. If you need more guidance, especially good for the kiddos, why not sign them up for Whistler Outdoor Camps? An introduction to the great Canadian wilderness. They can then help you with your own campfire.

Here are some tips for setting up a campfire in a safe and responsible manner.

1.Find clearance

Low hanging branches are hazardous for fires. Therefore find a campfire spot that has at least five feet of clearance. It’s also smart to place the fire two wing spans (the length of two people standing fingertip to fingertip) away from overhanding limbs.

2. Avoid setting up if windy

Windy weather is dangerous since it may spread sparks and embers. If it’s summer (but the fire ban is not yet on) a windy day is not a suitable environment to set up your campfire.

3. Use or create a fire ring

Rather than building fire on twigs, forest debris and other combustible materials use a fire ring or create one. You can create a fire ring easily. Simply scrape the ground to the dirt, make a ring with big rocks, and then scrape the ground immediately outside of the ring at a width of at least one meter (this is the firebreak).

4. Keep it small, keep it controlled

In BC there are regulations which state that campfires cannot be bigger than 0.5m in height and 0.5m in diameter. Of course, it’s impossible for every campfire in the wilderness in BC to be monitored. However, it’s up to you to be responsible with size. These regulations exist for a reason. A fire that is smaller is easier to control, and easier to douse. Furthermore, if you are cooking over a fire a smaller fire is best.

5. Put it out

Don’t leave a fire unattended. This means when you go to bed, no matter how small the fire has become, douse it with water several times and touch the ashes to ensure they are cold and won’t become re-lit.