C. Oregon firewood season starts next week
Personal use firewood collection in designated woodcutting areas of the Deschutes National Forest will open on Monday, April 29.
The firewood-cutting season on the Ochoco National Forest and the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management will open on Wednesday, May 1, and all areas will remain open through Nov. 30.
Starting Monday, firewood permits will be available for sale at Deschutes Forest Service offices, the Ochoco National Forest office, BLM office, and at various vendors located throughout Central Oregon.
Permits sell for $10 per cord with a minimum two-cord purchase required. Each household may purchase up to eight cords annually. Permit holders will receive a ‘Firewood Synopsis,’ a publication illustrating the areas where the public has access to collect firewood after purchasing a firewood permit.
It is the responsibility of the permit holder to read the Firewood Synopsis in order to understand which tree species are available for firewood cutting and gathering in the designated areas. It is prohibited to possess or remove trees that have been cut illegally.
Many areas have different opening dates, and some have off-road vehicle use restrictions.
Permit holders need to pay particular attention to the “Rules and Regulations” as well as the specific cutting designations listed on each cutting area map in the synopsis.
Compliance with these regulations will allow the Forest Service to continue to offer new cutting areas to the public, the agency said.
For more information, contact the Deschutes National Forest at (541) 383-5300, the Ochoco National Forest at (541) 416-6500, or the Prineville Bureau of Land Management at (541) 416-6700. For a list of vendors, or additional information, visit our websites at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon
