Firewood
The Basics
- Free use firewood permits can be acquired in person or requested virtually during open season.
- Valid government identification is required to obtain a permit.
- Personal/free use firewood permits are free of charge and expire annually when the season ends in November.
- Households may harvest up to 6 cords annually with a free use firewood permit for personal use only.
- Firewood harvested for resale purposes requires a Commercial Firewood Permit, which can be acquired by completing the Special Request Form (pending availability).
What to Bring When Cutting
In addition to your chainsaw and safety gear, you must carry the following items while cutting firewood.
- Firewood Permit & Tags
- Firewood Infosheet
- Firewood Cutting Map
You can pick these documents up from any one of our four district offices. Make sure you check office hours in advance.
Firewood Cutting Maps & Infosheets
Firewood infosheets include information like the current industrial firewood precaution level, active timber sales, and general cutting guidance. Firewood cutting maps show the areas that do and don't allow cutting across the Forest. East Zone includes Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts and West Zone includes Zigzag and Clackamas River Ranger Districts.
You will receive infosheets and cutting maps when you pick up your permit and tags. Digital versions are linked below.
Permit Types
- Personal (free) use firewood permits are available at no cost, but all firewood cutters must obtain a valid permit.
- During the firewood season - usually April through November - permits can be acquired in person at any of our district offices. If you can't make it to the office, you can submit a Firewood Permit Application.
- Free use firewood permits are for personal use only. Intent to sell firewood requires a commercial (charge) use permit.
- The annual cutting limit per household is 6 cords. A standard, full cord of wood is a volume of 128 cubic feet, measured as a pile 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide. Check out these visuals showing how much wood is in a cord.
- Access to some of our usual woodcutting areas is limited due to wildfire closures. Driving in a fire closure area is prohibited.
- Firewood cutting areas are described on the firewood cutting maps and information sheets, which you're required to carry along with your permit while cutting. Information sheets change regularly and show the IFPL status of each area.
- Intent to sell firewood or to harvest more than the 6-cord household annual limit requires a commercial (charge) use firewood permit.
- Commercial firewood permits are available by completing our Special Request Form only, pending availability.
- Contact a Special Forest Products Coordinator for more information on commercial permits:
- Cara Lewis, Clackamas River & Zigzag Ranger Districts
- Mark Terhune, Barlow & Hood River Ranger Districts
Be Prepared & Be Safe
Industrial Fire Precaution Levels
The Forest Service uses four industrial fire precaution levels (IFPLs) to reduce the likelihood of wildfires by regulating work activities in the Forest, including firewood cutting. It's critical to know the current IFPL before heading out to a firewood cutting area.
Each of the four units across the Forest may have a different IFPL restriction.
- Level 1: A Fire Watch is required to stay in the area for one hour after power equipment has been shut off to watch for fire starts.
- Level 2: Shut down all power equipment by 1 p.m. A Fire Watch is required to stay in the area for one hour after power equipment has been shut off to watch for fire starts.
- Levels 3 & 4: All woodcutting activity is prohibited.
Fire Prevention
- Stay current on Mt. Hood fire information.
- Firewood cutters must have screen spark arrestors on their chainsaws and carry a chemical fire extinguisher & shovel.
- Before heading into the Forest:
- Contact your nearest ranger station for up-to-date information on wood supply.
- Check the current conditions.
- Forest roads may have trees or debris on them. Drive with caution and be prepared.
- Driving in a fire closure area is prohibited. Visitors can access burn areas on foot, but this comes with risks. Learn how to stay safe in a burn area.
- Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as:
- steel-toed boots
- chainsaw chaps
- hearing protection
- eye protection
- Consider wearing a hardhat, especially in burned areas, to protect yourself from snags.
- If possible, bring a friend. The buddy system is always recommended when using a chainsaw.
Assistance for Seniors & People with Disabilities
Do you have a friend, neighbor, or loved one that is a senior and/or has a physical disability and uses firewood to heat their home? Have you wondered how you can help harvest firewood for those who need assistance? Learn more about our Firewood Assistance Program.
The Mt. Hood National Forest Firewood Assistance Program aims to provide options for the members of our community that rely on firewood for heat but cannot cut and/or harvest the firewood on their own due to age or physical disability.
Only free (personal) use firewood permits are accepted in this program; anyone purchasing charge (commercial) use firewood permits do not qualify for firewood assistance.