National forests launch free use firewood program

The national forests of Washington in Region 6 of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service are transitioning their firewood program to become a free-use program to the public.

According to a news release, those who receive free-use firewood permits can use firewood for cutting, manufacturing, handling or other processing, but not for resale. Charge permits are available for individuals who want to resell firewood. Minimum rates for firewood charge permits is $5 per cord.

Free firewood permits are only valid during the current firewood season for the forest which they were issued on. Forest supervisors will designate free use firewood areas on all or parts of units that are compatible with land management plans and will establish an annual limit on the number of cords of free use an individual can collect.

Along with Olympic National Forest, Mount Baker, Snoqualmie, Mount Hood, Rogue River Siskiyou, Siuslaw, Umpqua and Willamette will transition to free use firewood beginning Oct. 1. A second transition will occur for Deschutes, Fremont-Winema, Gifford Pinchot, Malheur, Ochoco, Okanogan-Wenatchee, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman no later than Jan. 1.