Firewood permits will be available for purchase at Siuslaw National Forest offices beginning Oct. 3. Permits are required regardless if the firewood is for personal use or to be sold commercially. Firewood cutting season typically runs from the beginning of October through the end of February, although cutting and removing firewood outside that timeframe may be authorized on a case-by-case basis. Anyone interested in purchasing a permit is encouraged to contact their nearest national forest office for details.

Permits for personal use firewood cost $10 a cord, with a two cord minimum purchase. Households are limited to six cords per calendar year. Commercial permits cost $20 a cord, with a six cord minimum purchase. Please see below for additional information on purchasing firewood permits at each ranger district.

Hebo Ranger District: Both commercial and personal use permits will be on sale beginning at 8am, Oct. 3, on a first come, first served basis at the Hebo office. This year, the Hebo Ranger District will have a reduced supply of personal use permits, due to a shortage of harvestable wood. At the Hebo Ranger Station, prospective purchasers will be allowed to line up no earlier than 6am the morning of Oct. 3. Camping overnight in the parking lot is not permitted. The ranger district anticipates being able to make a small amount of additional personal use permits available for purchase later this fall or winter. Interested buyers are encouraged to contact the ranger district for more information.

Central Coast Ranger District: Personal use permits will be on sale beginning at 8:30am, Oct. 3, on a first come, first served basis at both the Waldport and Reedsport district offices, as well as the supervisor’s office in Corvallis. There will be a reduced supply of personal use permits due to a current shortage of harvestable wood.  Those interested in purchasing a commercial permit must first contact the district office (541-563-8400) to learn how to submit an advance permit request in writing. Individuals may purchase a commercial permit for up to a maximum of 15 cords.

Across the forest, firewood harvesting must occur in designated cutting areas only. Maps can be reviewed before purchasing a permit and will also be issued at the time of permit sales. Depending on the permit, harvesters will have 20 to 40 days to collect their firewood from the date of purchase on the Hebo District; 30 to 60 days on the Central Coast Ranger District.

When collecting firewood, harvesters are reminded to:

• Adhere to provisions listed on their permit
• Clean up cutting area, scattering or removing debris from wood cutting
• Keep firewood lengths to 6 feet or less when transporting
• Accurately record quantities cut on their removal cards and firmly attach load tags to the transported wood

If collecting only limbs, chunks of wood, or bark for personal use only, firewood gatherers should request a free-use permit. No power equipment can be used when gathering free-use firewood. Free-use permittees cannot gather their firewood within cutting areas designated for paid permittees.  Failure to comply with provisions on any firewood permit may result in fines up to $5,000, forfeiture of the permit, or both.

For more information or to obtain a permit, contact a Siuslaw National Forest office in Corvallis (541-750-7000), Hebo (503-392-5100), Reedsport (541-271-6000), or Waldport (541-563-8400). More information is available online at http://go.usa.gov/xKtKc.