Europe’s energy crisis raises firewood prices, theft fears


              Firewood is storage in an apartment building in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood fears are rising about the environmental impact of increased air pollution and tree-cutting. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
            
              Gheorghe Batca leans on a stove that heats his home outside Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              Gheorghe Batca feeds firewood into a stove that heats his home outside Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              Gheorghe Batca carries firewood from a storage room to his house outside Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              Pallets of firewood for sale are placed on the side of the road outside Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              A firewood vendor loads a pallet into a van outside Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              People load firewood from a pallet into a van outside Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              A firewood vendor moves pallets outside Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              Men cut wood for heating outside Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              Men cut wood for heating outside Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              Tudor Popescu feeds firewood into a stove in a storage room attached to his home in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
            
              FILE - A worker holds a handful of wood pellets produced in Ettenheim, southern Germany, Oct. 21, 2009. Austrian police warned last week of a significant rise in fraudsters claiming to sell firewood and wood pellets online, while several companies across the country were raided on suspicion that they had engaged in price rigging. The German Pellet Institute also is warning buyers to beware of fake sellers who demand payment in advance and then disappear. (AP Photo/ Winfried Rothermel, File)
            
              Tudor Popescu chops fire wood he uses for heating in a storage room attached to his home in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)