Firewood cutting areas begin to reopen in some locations on the Gasquet Ranger District

Personal firewood permit required

The Smith River Complex Fire suppression repair team have been working to safely open firewood cutting areas along Highway 199, on the Gasquet Ranger District.

Personal firewood cutting is now open along Highway 199 corridor, except two locations: milepost 19.64 (Waterfall) and milepost 24.65 (Dollar Sign Curve). These two locations will open once heavy equipment operations are completed. A firewood permit is required and can be purchased at the Gasquet Ranger Station, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. A personal-use firewood-cutting permit is $2 per cord with a minimum charge of $20. A maximum of 10 cords may be purchased per individual per year and expires December 31st, 2024. The permit is for personal-use firewood only, not for resale. No commercial permits are available.

The Six Rivers National Forest (SRNF) is open all year to firewood cutting unless otherwise restricted by the permit or by special closures. Active timber sale areas; posted “no wood cutting” areas; wilderness areas; administrative sites; within 150 feet of campgrounds; and within 300 feet of rivers, year-round streams, and lakes are closed to firewood cutting.

Firewood permit will include a map delineating open and restricted cutting areas. In open areas, all species of dead and down trees may be cut and removed in portions less than 5 feet long, as well all species of standing dead trees 18 inches or less in diameter (measured at 4.5 feet above the ground).

During summer, early fall, or fire season, parts of the SRNF may be closed to cutting due to fire danger or extreme weather conditions. Between May 1 and December 1, a pre-recorded message will state the predicted Project Activity Level (PAL) requirements for the next day. Call (707) 441-3665 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/srnf/firewood-pal for any firewood cutting restrictions that may be in effect. It is the permittee’s responsibility to comply with fire prevention precautions that may restrict access to areas in the forest.

For questions, contact the Gasquet Ranger Station at (707) 457-3131.