Firewood Permits for Sale on May 1

Release Date: Apr 27, 2015

Contact(s): Larisa Bogardus, Matthew Burks

BAKER CITY, OR: 2015 Firewood permits for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest will go on sale May 1. Personal-use firewood permits can be purchased for $5 per cord, with a four cord minimum and a 10 cord maximum. Personal-use firewood permits will be available at Forest Service offices and at several local vendors beginning May 1. Commercial firewood permits are only available at Ranger District Offices.

Vendors will sell firewood permits in 4-cord packets. An additional vendor fee, up to $2, will be charged for each 4-cord, $20 firewood permit purchased at a local vendor. “Our vendors provide a great service to the woodcutter by selling firewood permits at times more convenient to the public,” said Tom Montoya, Forest Supervisor. Most vendors are open early mornings, late evenings and on the weekends. An additional fee is not charged if you purchase a permit at a Forest Service Office.

Firewood cutters will be required to keep a record of the date, time, and quantity of firewood removed from the National Forest System Lands. There is a chart on the front of the permit called the “Product Quantity Removal Record.” This requirement will be enforced. Additional information can be found in the Firewood Guide that accompanies each permit.

Firewood cutters are required to carry an axe, a shovel, an 8 oz. capacity or larger fire extinguisher, and have their chainsaw equipped with an approved spark arrester when cutting wood.

As we move into the hot, dry summer months, Public Use Restrictions (PURs) may be implemented. Restrictions will be announced by 6:00 pm on the day prior to the restriction(s) going into effect. Weekend restrictions will be announced by 6:00 pm on Friday. Updated PURs will be posted on a recorded message at 1-877-958-9663 and on the forest’s website. It is the public’s responsibility to check if firewood cutting is allowed, restricted to specific hours of the day, or prohibited.

Mountain travel will require extreme care to avoid getting stuck or causing extensive and illegal resource damage to the land and vegetation. Woodcutters are asked to:

Contact the local Ranger District office before heading out to make sure the area you’re traveling to is accessible.
Avoid driving off roads and onto wet, unstable ground or fragile meadow environments to load firewood.
Be prepared! Pack additional food, water, clothing and other emergency supplies.
Let someone know your destination and estimated time of return.

Firewood cutting information and restrictions will be updated and posted on a recorded message. Restrictions will be announced by 6:00 pm on the day prior to the day the restriction will go into effect. Weekend restrictions will be announced by 6:00 pm on Friday. It is the public’s responsibility to check to see if restrictions are in affect. Call the appropriate Forest’s Firewood Hotline to check if firewood cutting is allowed, restricted, or prohibited. An updated recorded message will let you know if firewood cutting is: allowed all day; restricted to specific hours (i.e. 1:00 pm chainsaw shutdown); restricted to specific areas of the Forest; or closed completely due to wildfire danger.

Wallowa-Whitman Firewood Hotlines:

Baker City (541) 523-1234
La Grande (541) 962-8679
Joseph (541) 426-5552

Permits are not valid in areas where firewood cutting restrictions are in effect. Woodcutters are also encouraged to remain in the work area for a minimum of one hour after the chainsaw is shut down to watch for and suppress any fires or smoldering duff; and is required when PURS are implemented.

For more information on firewood cutting, please contact:

Wallowa-Whitman Supervisor’s Office: (541) 523-1244

La Grande Ranger District: (541) 963-7186

Wallowa Mountains Office (Joseph): (541) 426-5546

Whitman Ranger District: