Balsam Fir Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Abies balsamea

BTU per Cord

14,300,000

Density

2,236 lbs/cord

Category

softwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

high

Smoke Rating

medium

Coaling Quality

poor

Seasoning Time

6 months

Availability

regional

Low-density softwood that ignites easily and burns fast. Produces significant sparking due to resin pockets, so use only in enclosed fireplaces or stoves. Good kindling wood. Pleasant fragrance when burning.

Pros

  • +Easy to split
  • +Seasons relatively quickly (6 months)

Cons

  • -Lower heat output
  • -poor coaling quality
  • -High sparking — use with a screen or in a stove

Best Uses for Balsam Fir

Open Fireplace

Not recommended — high sparking

Wood Stove

Usable but lower heat

Campfire

Great — easy to light and splits easily

Smoking/Cooking

Not recommended — resinous flavor

Seasoning Balsam Fir

Balsam Fir requires approximately 6 months of seasoning to reach the ideal moisture content of 20% or below. Split wood to 3-6 inch pieces and stack with good airflow. Keep the top covered but leave sides open to air. Store off the ground on pallets or rails.

Compare With Similar Species

Eastern White Pine

14,300,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Western Red Cedar

13,000,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Eastern Hemlock

15,900,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

White Spruce

15,900,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Calculate BTU →All Species →

Last updated: December 2024