Firewood-cutting permits will be available on Siuslaw’s Central Coast Ranger District beginning Oct. 2. (Photo by Canva)

Firewood-cutting permits will soon be available on the Siuslaw National Forest, officials announced.

People harvesting or transporting firewood are required to have a commercial or personal-use permit on hand, officials said. Rules, restrictions and locations for firewood cutting are specific to each district.

Personal-use permits will be free of charge and households are limited to a maximum of six cords of free personal-use firewood per year. Commercial use permits cost $120 for a six-cord minimum and $20 per additional cord.

Both permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits are not transferable. A valid government ID is required at the time of purchase, officials said.

Persons interested in a firewood permit are encouraged to visit the cutting areas before requesting a permit. Maps and relevant information will be posted to the Siuslaw National Forest firewood-cutting webpage as it becomes available.

Roads leading to the firewood-cutting areas may be primitive and require four-wheel drive. Officials ask harvesters to avoid cutting, piling or gathering firewood near any stream, pond, lake, marshy or wet area, to help protect water quality and fish habitat.

The Siuslaw National Forest runs north-south from Coos Bay to Tillamook and east-west from the Pacific Ocean to the edge of the Willamette Valley. The forest is divided into two ranger districts — Central Coast and Hebo. Philomath is located just east of the Central Coast District.

Following are district-specific guidelines:

  • Central Coast Ranger District — Personal-use and commercial firewood permits will be available beginning Oct. 2 at the Central Coast Ranger Station in Waldport (1130 Forestry Lane, Waldport, OR 97394) and in Reedsport (855 Highway 101, Reedsport, OR 97467). For more information, contact Mitch Lachapelle at 541-305-3869 or mitchell.lachapelle@usda.gov. The ranger stations in Waldport (541-563-8400) and Reedsport (541-271-6000) may also be contacted with questions.
  • Hebo Ranger District — Personal-use firewood permits will be available beginning Oct. 10 at the Hebo Ranger Station (31525 Highway 22, Hebo, OR 97122). Due to staffing shortages, no commercial firewood permits will be offered this year. For more information, contact Jessica Hudspeth at 503-392-5131 or Jessica.hudspeth@usda.gov.