Sequoia National Forest offers free firewood permits

The Sequoia National Forest, which includes the Giant Sequoia National Monument, will continue to issue free “personal use” firewood permits through Nov. 30. According to forest officials, the free permit may only be used on dead firewood material (without green leaves or needles) within the Sequoia National Forest.

To reduce the volume of debris laying on the ground, which creates a fire hazard, the Forest Service is offering free wood permits for the rest of the summer.

“As most people are aware, the combination of drought and insects have caused heavy tree mortality across the forest,” said Forest Supervisor Kevin Elliott. “The personal use wood cutting program is one means for reducing the hazardous material on the ground, and we want to make that program as productive as possible.”

Forest Service scientists expect to see continued elevated levels of tree mortality during 2017 in dense forest stands, stands impacted by root diseases or other stress agents and in areas with higher levels of bark beetle activity.

Permits and location maps are available at the Hume Lake, Western Divide, Kernville ranger stations, Lake Isabella Office and the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Porterville.

Most notable rules and regulations that apply to the free firewood permits:

permits are valid April 1-Nov. 30.

one permit issued per person, with a 10cord limit this season.

cutting with a chainsaw will only be permitted within 50 feet of the road

cutting or removing redwood (Giant Sequoia) trees or downed redwood material is prohibited.

the wood collected is not for commercial use.

only dead firewood material (without green leaves or needles) may be taken. cutting and loading of firewood is permitted

only during daylight hours.

individuals are required to maintain a product removal record each day per removal site.

permittees removing forest firewood must be in possession of the permit during woodcutting.

a load receipt must be attached to the load before leaving the wood cutting site.

a permit is not valid in campgrounds or areas posted closed to wood cutting unless authorized by the District Ranger in writing.

do not cut trees that are marked with paint or wildlife tree tags.

permits are only valid on the Sequoia National Forest, which includes the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

standing dead trees (snags with no green showing in the crown) can be cut between June 1 and Oct. 15. Provided they are no larger than 15 inches in diameter at ground level. Leave a stump height of less than 12 inches from the ground on the high side

of a tree.

hume Lake Ranger District allows cutting and removing fuelwood from the following campgrounds: Princess, Hume Lake, Ten Mile, Buck Rock, and Eshom with a valid free use fuelwood permit, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

standing dead oak trees may not be cut on the Hume Lake Ranger District.

Keep your permit on the dashboard of your vehicle where it is visible through the windshield. Fill out the bottom portion of the permit at the cutting site before you haul each load.

Forest Service law enforcement and fire officials will be monitoring how much wood is removed from the forest.

Forest visitors are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” and call ahead to the local ranger station for local conditions, regulations, and bans. For more information, contact your local ranger station or visit the Sequoia National Forest website at www. fs.usda.gov/sequoia.