Possible summer fire restrictions prompt early sale of fuelwood permits

Permits for fuelwood are going on sale early this year due to anticipated fire restrictions which would prohibit cutting days this summer.

The permits go on sale Wednesday, April 15 at the U.S. Forest Service Supervisor's office located at 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

Although weather conditions allow for the early sale of permits, areas to obtain fuelwood will be limited because not all gates and roads are open. As gates and roads open, more areas will become accessible. The public should purchase permits and collect wood early as fire restrictions are likely to go into effect early and there may be days when no cutting is allowed. The Forest Service North Shore office will begin selling permits in May.

Permits cost $20 per cord, with a two-cord minimum purchase and a limit of 10 cords per household. Permits have specific conditions and complete information is provided when the permit is issued. Maps to designated cutting areas are provided and must be in the permit holder’s possession along with the valid permit.

The permit is for collection of “down-dead” wood up to a 30-inch maximum diameter in designated fuelwood areas within the Lake Tahoe Basin. “Down-dead” means the tree is down on the ground and dead, rather than dead and standing. Cutting any standing tree, whether dead or green, is not allowed.

No off-road travel is allowed and permit holders must comply with all permit conditions. Some designated fuelwood areas are only open during specified dates and all areas are subject to closure at any time. For a complete list of gate and road opening dates, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/OpeningClosingDates.
The Forest Supervisor's Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 530-543-2694, or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/FuelwoodPermits.