Oak Firewood in Garage: Potential Mold/Spore Source for Respiratory Issues

Sister has severe breathing problems; ER visit inconclusive. Moldy smell in garage (stored oak firewood cut 1 year ago) permeates car and house. Could the wood be the source?

Plausible Link

Stored firewood—especially if ever damp—hosts diverse fungal and bacterial microbes. Spores, mycotoxins, and volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) can aerosolize and trigger allergies, asthma, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Investigation Steps

1. Move firewood outdoors, away from the house immediately.
2. Ventilate garage and house thoroughly.
3. Hire a mold inspection/air sampling service (check "mold remediation" or health dept referrals).
4. Identify specific spores; correlate with medical allergens.

Wood decay fungi are a known indoor air quality hazard when stored in attached garages.