Question: Will storing firewood near our house increase the chance of termites invading the structure?

Answer: It should not. It is a good idea, however, to keep the firewood away from wooden surfaces of the house, just to keep moisture and dirt away from the paint or stain. Be careful about storing firewood where borers can invade it. Those same insects that love tunneling through the stored firewood can later invade trees in your landscape. Be extremely cautious about oak firewood. Beetles that carry oak wilt will proliferate in oak firewood. Cover the pile with clear polyethylene plastic. Overlap the seams by several inches. Black plastic film develops holes, and the insects can sense the light, then use the holes for their escape and spread. With clear plastic, they are far less likely to escape.