Firewood seekers should follow proper steps, attain permits
A concerned citizen is hoping to spread the word about illegal tree cutting up in the Carmi area.
Bill Lauritzen, who herds cattle in the area, noticed a significant amount of trees cut just past the two kilometre mark up the mountain. Many of the trees — well over 90 metres in height — were fallen and little to no cuts made in them.
“It all happened in one day,” he explained. “All kinds of stuff goes on up here, especially on weekends.”
Lauritzen believes it’s because the wood is too damp and would take years to dry for firewood that stopped the individual from cutting up the trees. Close by was a fire pit surrounded by litter, cans and needles.
Well over a dozen trees in the area have fallen, many with age rings that surpassed 100 years.
Lauritzen says he’s seen 80 to 90 trees minimum cut and fallen in this year alone, that he knows of.
“(The ministry) will eventually bring someone in to clean it up,” he said. For trees that were partially cut, Lauritzen said they’ll rot and eventually fall down.
“The trees can only stand so much around here,” he said.
Gavin Francis, a natural resource officer with the province, said the issue Lauritzen is describing is an unfortunate one that he sees quite a bit of in the Carmi area.
“For people that are interested in harvesting firewood, you can get a free permit online. You just need to log in online and print off the permit,” he urged.
The permit also covers what can and cannot be harvested, information that both Lauritzen and Francis encourage people to read. Trees that are dead, or fallen trees that have no green foliage, can be cut and used for firewood. It also covers how to properly cut the tree and how tall the remaining stump should stand at in order to allow it to decompose.
For more information, or to download the permit, visit the ministry’s website at: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/forestslands-natural-resource-operations-andrural-development.
To report illegal poaching, call 1-877-952-7277.