LAKEVIEW, Ore. – Effective Saturday, January 1, personal use firewood permits on the Fremont-Winema National Forest will be free, available at no charge to the public.
A permit will still need to be obtained by contacting the local Ranger District or the Forest Supervisor’s office.
Woodcutters will need to have a paper copy of the permit with them while cutting firewood. The current Personal Use Firewood Synopsis and firewood map also needs to be with them either hardcopy or electronically while cutting wood.
Loads should be logged on the Product Quantity Removal Record located on the permit before leaving the woodcutting site. The Forest is no longer issuing tags for personal use firewood.
Each household can collect up to 10 cords of personal use firewood a year. A cord equates to a wood stack that is 4 feet wide by 4 feet high by 8 feet long.
The Fremont-Winema National Forest is among the national forests shifting to a free personal use firewood program. As a result, the Forest will no longer be charging for personal use firewood permits.
Firewood obtained through this program is for personal use only and not for resale. Commercial permits are still available by contacting local Fremont-Winema National Forest offices by phone.
Woodcutting permit holders are expected to follow the 2022 Personal Use Firewood Synopsis of Rules and Regulations. The document, along with the woodcutting maps will be available online at the Forest’s “Firewood Permits” page. Maps are also available digitally from Avenza Maps at www.avenzamaps.com.
Regulations include:
- Cut only in permitted areas. No woodcutting is allowed within 150 feet of developed recreation sites or in Wilderness Areas, Wild and Scenic River Corridors, Unique Areas, Research Natural Areas, Research Areas, Experimental Forest Areas or within posted areas including unlogged or active timber sales, contract areas and posted “No Cutting” areas.
- All trees standing or down with paint, tags or signs on them are protected and may not be cut.
- Use of mechanized skidding and/or loading equipment for removal of firewood is prohibited. The only power equipment authorized for use are chainsaws, winches and hydraulic splitters.
- Spark arresters should be on all mechanical equipment and fire prevention measures, including following Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL), should be followed.
- Maximum length of firewood allowed to be cut and transported is 6 feet.
- Cut and scatter limbs and tops. Remove all slash from roads and ditches.
- See the synopsis document for specific regulations by Ranger District. This includes restrictions on cutting near streams, seeps, springs and meadows, as well as tree species allowed.
Even with personal use firewood permits being free, woodcutters are still responsible for being aware of the current Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) and regulations during fire season. More information on IFPLs can be found at www.scofmp.org.
Additionally, woodcutters should practice good forest safety, including:
- Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, enough water for everyone for 3 days, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, flashlight, flares and/or something to start a fire with, camp saw or hatchet, and cold weather sleeping bag or blankets.
- Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains and high desert! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
- Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources.
- In snowy conditions, if the snow on the road is 3 inches or greater, turn around – conditions are not likely to improve ahead.
- Do not count on technology – GPS can steer drivers onto impassable roads and there is not cellphone service across most of the Forest.
For more information on the free personal use firewood cutting, please contact your local Fremont-Winema National Forest Office during regular business hours between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. They can be reached at: Supervisor’s Office – 541-947-2151; Bly Ranger District – 541-353-2427; Chiloquin and Chemult Ranger Districts – 541-783-4001; Klamath Ranger District – 541-883-6714; Lakeview Ranger District – 541-947-3334; Paisley Ranger District – 541-943-3114; Silver Lake Ranger District – 541-576-2107.
Please bear in mind that all Forest offices are currently closed to the public, but virtual services are provided, including map and permit sales.
For more information on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema, follow the Forest on Twitter @FremontWinemaNF or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/R6FWNF.