El Niño Is Coming: Stock Up on Firewood in Santa Barbara County
El Niño Is Coming: Stock Up on Firewood in Santa Barbara County
Forecasters are tracking a strong El Niño pattern heading into this season, and that is a good reason to line up your firewood in Santa Barbara County now. A wetter, cooler winter means more cold evenings, more fires in the fireplace and a lot of people shopping for seasoned oak at the same time. I'm Kyle, and I have delivered firewood across Southern California for 25 years, including along the Santa Barbara coast and out to Buellton. Here is what an El Niño winter means for your woodpile and how to get ahead of it.
In this post:
Why El Niño Means a Tighter Firewood Season in Santa Barbara
El Niño is a warming of the Pacific Ocean that tends to send more storms toward Southern California. For us that usually means a wetter and cooler winter than normal. I am not a weather forecaster, so check the forecast for the details. What I can tell you is what happens at the woodpile when the cold and rain arrive.
More nights become fireplace nights. Everyone who was thinking about ordering firewood decides to do it in the same week. Delivery slots fill up, and the customers who wait end up on a backorder list while they burn through the last of what they have.
Rain adds a second problem. Wet or green wood is hard to light and smoky when it does burn. What you want on a cold, rainy night is properly seasoned hardwood that is already dry and ready to go. That is the wood I cut, split and deliver myself, and I am one person with one truck. Ordering early is the simplest way to make sure your delivery lands before the storms do.
Where We Deliver Firewood in Santa Barbara County
Firewood Guys delivers throughout the Santa Barbara south coast and into the Santa Ynez Valley. I cover Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Carpinteria, Hope Ranch, Isla Vista and Buellton, along with the neighborhoods around them.
Whether you have a fireplace in a Santa Barbara bungalow, a stove in a Montecito home or a fire pit on a Goleta patio, the plan is the same: get seasoned oak on site before the storms start. Not sure we reach your address? Text me at (805) 795-7111 and I will tell you. See the full Santa Barbara County delivery area. We deliver in Ventura County and Los Angeles County too.
Locally Sourced, Properly Seasoned Oak for a Wet Winter
Red oak or white oak is the wood to have for an El Niño winter. It burns long and hot, holds a bed of coals through the night and is what most fireplace owners reach for. Our red oak or white oak firewood in Santa Barbara County is the one I load most often. Other good choices:
Avocado: dense, clean-burning, with a mild aroma. A good fit in an area known for its avocado groves. Avocado firewood Santa Barbara County
Eucalyptus: burns extremely well when properly seasoned, and it burns hot. Eucalyptus firewood Santa Barbara County
Mixed hardwood and softwood: an easy all-around option that lights quickly for casual fires. Mixed firewood Santa Barbara County
All of our wood is locally sourced, within 25 miles of where it is delivered. It comes from a mix of the Santa Monica Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, local arborists, local ranches and farms, and homeowners who have had trees removed. Nothing is trucked in from other parts of California.
Once the wood is delivered, keep the stack dry. Stack it off the ground on a rack or pallets, cover the top and leave the sides open so air can move through. Bring a few days of wood to the house at a time so it is dry when you need it. If you cook with wood, read our guide Best Firewood for BBQ and Pizza Ovens in Southern California.
How to Order Firewood Before the Rush
Open the Santa Barbara County shop page and choose your wood and your cord size. Sizes run from a 1/8 cord (16 cubic feet) up to a full cord (128 cubic feet).
Check out online, or text me at (805) 795-7111 if you want to confirm availability first.
Pick your delivery day. We deliver only, there is no pickup. Stacking is available on request depending on location and order size, and additional fees may apply.
Free delivery in most areas we service. Some locations may have a small delivery fee shown at checkout. Need wood on a schedule? Subscription deliveries are available, so ask me about them.
The Firewood Guys app is the quickest way to order and reorder all winter. Download it here:
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/firewood-guys-delivery-service/id6744744818
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=branded.m910be790100c4f9b93c540c25b786729.wwwfirewoodguysweb
Every order earns loyalty points: 1 point for every $1 you spend. At 300 points you get 5% off, and at 600 points you get 10% off, applied to the lowest priced item in your cart. New members get 5% off their first order, and members receive a birthday coupon every year. Refer a friend and they get 5% off while you earn 10% off your next order. Read more about the loyalty program. For a longer walk-through of timing, see How to Order Firewood Before the Rush Hits Southern California.
Fire Mitigation and Defensible Space Before Fire Season
A wet winter grows grass and brush, and that growth dries out and becomes fuel by summer. If your home backs up to the foothills, the time to deal with it is before the dry season, not during it.
Firewood Guys also handles fire mitigation in Santa Barbara County, defensible space clearing, weed abatement, brush removal, downed oak tree removal and log and wood disposal. Weed abatement removes dry brush and overgrown vegetation so your property meets fire clearance requirements. Our land clearing work is based in Ventura County, and we also take on weed abatement in Santa Barbara County. Read more in Weed Abatement in Ventura County: Fire Season Clearance You Can Count On and Fire Safety Tips for Southern California Homeowners. Text me photos and your address for a quote.
El Niño Firewood FAQ for Santa Barbara County
When should I order firewood for an El Niño winter?
As early as you can, ideally before the first big storm. Delivery slots fill fast once the weather turns, and an early order means your wood is stacked and dry before you need it.
How much firewood will I need?
It depends on how often you burn and whether your fireplace is your main heat or just for evenings. A 1/8 cord is an easy way to start, and you can reorder through the app. Our guide How Much Firewood Do You Actually Need? breaks it down.
Is delivery really free?
Free delivery in most areas we service. Some locations may have a small delivery fee shown at checkout, so you see the exact amount for your address before you pay.
What if my firewood gets rained on?
Seasoned oak handles a little rain better than you would expect. The outside gets wet and the inside stays dry. Move it under cover, let the surface dry and burn the driest pieces first. Keep the top of the stack covered so it does not happen again.
Do you deliver to my neighborhood?
If you are on the Santa Barbara south coast or out toward Buellton, very likely. Text (805) 795-7111 with your address and I will confirm. You can also follow Firewood Guys Santa Barbara on Instagram (@firewoodguyssantabarbara) for our Santa Barbara County deliveries.
Ready to get ahead of El Niño? Order at firewoodguysca.com, go straight to the Santa Barbara County shop or text Kyle at (805) 795-7111. Locally sourced, properly seasoned oak, delivered by the person who cut it.
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