Springfield, Ore., April 3, 2020 – Personal firewood cutting will be free to the general public
through June 1, 2020, on Willamette National Forest. No permit will be required during this time.
Woodcutters can take up to four cords of firewood for personal use. A cord is the amount of tightly
piled wood in a stack four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long.
"This is a difficult time for many in our community, and we are in this together," said Willamette
National Forest Acting Forest Supervisor Duane Bishop. "It is our hope that people who rely on
firewood for their daily living needs benefit from this opportunity."
Personal use firewood cutting allows you to remove downed timber or to cut standing dead trees
under most conditions on the Willamette National Forest. It is important to check with the local
ranger district to see what specific local restrictions or requirements other than those listed below
may apply.
Woodcutters should also use caution while driving on Forest Service roads. Many remain snow
covered and icy at higher elevations. Roadside shoulders at lower elevations are wet and muddy;
many collector roads have soft roadbeds that can easily be damaged by vehicle traffic.
Additionally, forest officials request that woodcutters also follow these requirements:
-Do not fell green (live) trees for firewood. Do not cut cedar or Pacific yew.
-Do not cut standing dead trees or down logs with signs, tags or paint marks on them.
-Firewood gathering is prohibited in all developed recreation areas, campgrounds and wild
and scenic river corridors.
-Firewood gathering is prohibited within timber sale units or other areas signed or shown on
the firewood gathering area map (if provided) as being closed to firewood gathering.
-Trees or logs must NOT be felled or skidded across live streams, lakes, or reservoirs. If a tree
is accidentally felled into a waterway, leave the entire tree. Firewood gathering is prohibited
within 150 feet of any running stream, pond, lake, marshy, or wet area.
-The following activities are prohibited: using over-the-terrain vehicles for skidding, yarding
or skidding systems in excess of 100 feet, log trucks for hauling, or vehicles driven off
roadways to gather firewood.
-Six feet is the maximum length piece that may be removed under the firewood program.
The following are fire regulations for vehicles and chainsaws (during proclaimed fire season):
-Chainsaw operators must always have a serviceable fire extinguisher (liquid -chemical 8 oz. or
dry chemical 1 lb.) and shovel available.
-Chainsaws must be equipped with an approved spark arrester screen.
-All vehicles must be equipped with a baffled muffler and serviceable tailpipe.
-Firewood obtained is intended for personal use only and not for resale. Inquire by phone or
email with your local District offices regarding commercial firewood permits.
-Pile or lop and scatter slash away from roads, power lines, telephone lines, ditches and stream
courses.
The firewood cutting information and guidelines are available on our website at
https://go.usa.gov/xvrDp. Handouts will also be made available to pick up from the front doors of
the respective ranger district. Please send an email to: sm.fs.mf [at] usda.gov (sm[dot]fs[dot]mf[at]usda[dot]gov) or call one of the below
numbers with any questions.