Regional News

Firewood cutting permits available forest-wide

Apr 26, 2016

Personal-use firewood cutting permits will be on sale at all Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest offices on May 2. Woodcutting permits will be sold on the Methow Valley Ranger District starting April 29 and have been sold on Tonasket Ranger District since April 1.

The minimum firewood permit is $20 for four cords of wood. The cost for permits over the four-cord minimum is $5 per cord. The maximum number of cords that may be purchased for personal-use is 12 cords per household per year.

Things to keep in mind when woodcutting.

Woodcutters should contact their local ranger district office for up-to-date road conditions.
Do not drive off of roads onto wet ground to load firewood.
Don’t travel on roads if road surfaces are slippery and muddy, let them dry out before traveling on them. This will prevent deep ruts from developing.
Be aware of other forest users, especially mushroom hunters, in areas burned by recent fires.
The best time to cut firewood is in the late spring and early fall; avoid mid to late summer as woodcutting restrictions may be imposed due to severe fire danger.
Permits must be purchased in person, no permits will be sold through the mail. Individuals purchasing woodcutting permits need to present a driver’s license or other form of picture identification at the time of purchase; they will also need to supply their phone number and address.
Woodcutters need to abide by the terms and conditions listed on their woodcutting permit. Be sure to read over all conditions and requirements listed on the woodcutting permit and be familiar with the information on the map.
A woodcutting area map is a necessity. These maps show the areas that are open and closed to woodcutting and are available free with the woodcutting permits.
One cord of firewood measures 4 feet high x 4 feet wide x 8 feet long.
Always be aware of the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) on the day that woodcutting will occur. Information on the IFPL or current restrictions may be obtained by viewing the IFPL website at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl, calling 509-884-3473 or your local ranger district office.
Special woodcutting rules and conditions apply on the Naches Ranger District; contact their office at 509-653-1401 for specific information. Firewood cutting season on the Naches Ranger District ends on September 30 or the first Sunday in October if Sept. 30 falls on a weekday.

Generally, woodcutters may cut wood lying on the forest floor and standing dead trees, except wildlife habitat trees. Be aware that western larch, also known as tamarack, drops its needles and may look dead, but isn’t. No woodcutting is allowed in congressionally designated Wilderness areas.

Firewood permits are good through December 31 in the calendar year they are purchased, with the exception of the Naches District, or until areas are no longer accessible. For more information, please contact your local ranger district office. Most of these offices are open Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ranger Districts	Address	Phone Number
Chelan Ranger District	428 W. Woodin Ave., Chelan WA 98816	509-682-4900
Cle Elum Ranger District	803 W. 2^nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922	509-852-1100
Entiat Ranger District	2108 Entiat Way, mailing address P.O. Box 476 Entiat, WA 98822	509-784-1511
Methow Valley Ranger District	24 West Chewuch Road, Winthrop, WA, 98862	509-996-4000
Naches Ranger District	10237 Hwy. 12, Naches, WA 98937	509-653-1401
Okanogan Valley Office	1240 South Second Ave., Okanogan, WA 98840	509-826-3275
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters office	215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801	509-664-9200
Tonasket Ranger District	1 W. Winesap, Tonasket, WA 98855	509-486-2186
Wenatchee River Ranger District	600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, WA 98826	509-548-2550