Firewood cutting permits now on sale

Permits to cut firewood for personal use from national forest land are now on sale at the Nez Perce National Forest Supervisor's Office in Grangeville and Clearwater National Forest Supervisor's Office in Orofino.

The Grangeville office is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the Orofino office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On the Clearwater National Forest, permits are available at the Kamiah and Kooskia Ranger Stations, and at the Powell Ranger District office located 55 miles west of Missoula. In Potlatch, permits can be purchased at the Palouse Ranger District office. Please make note of the Potlatch office’s new business hours. Beginning April 1, the office will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Permits are also sold at the Clearwater Ranger District office in Grangeville; the Slate Creek Ranger Station, eight miles south of White Bird; the Fenn Ranger Station, located five miles south of Lowell, and the Red River Ranger District office in Elk City.

Permits will also be available at the following businesses:

• Rae Brothers or Tackett's Saw Service in Grangeville
• Harpster Store in Harpster
• Southside Chevron on Spotswood, or Woodland Enterprises and Northwest
• Showcase on North Main in Moscow
• The Elk River Lodge and General Store on Main Street in Elk River
• Idaho Rigging, Highway 95, Potlatch
• Nelson's Fly Rod and Reel, Pierce
• Helmer Store and Cafe in Helmer

The Forest Service is currently working to recruit additional firewood permit vendors. By increasing sales outlets, the agency hopes to better meet the needs of the public.

A permit costs $10 and allows the holder to cut two cords of firewood.

Permits can be purchased for more cords at an additional cost of $5 per cord up to a maximum of 10 cords. The permits will be issued beginning Monday, April 3, 2006 and will remain valid through March 31, 2007.

In some instances, there are areas designated for cutting firewood and those purchasing a permit will be given a map showing where they can cut.

On the other hand, there are areas designated "no-firewood-cutting zones." The Lolo Trail Corridor, which is north of U.S. Highway 12 on the Clearwater National Forest, is off limits to firewood cutting for personal use at home. The Lolo Trail Corridor is a special place—a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. The no-cutting zone extends 1/4 mile on either side of the Lolo Motorway(Road 500) or the historic trails that wind through the corridor.

Otherwise, those going out to cut firewood, just need to make sure they are on national forest land, and follow these few common sense rules:

• Cut only dead trees, standing or down.
• Remember. The permit does not allow people to cut cedar or yew trees.
• Leave snags with trunk holes or visible nests for the creatures that live there.
• Leave trees with paint marks, tags or signs.
• Cut away from developed recreation areas and wild and scenic river corridors.
• Cut at least 300 feet away from any stream, pond, lake or marshy area.

For additional information, call the Nez Perce National Forest Supervisor's Office at (208) 983-1950, or the Clearwater National Forest Information Desk at (208) 476-8267.