The Taos News

Personal-use firewood permits go on sale June 1

- – Compiled by Staci Matlock

Personal-use firewood permits won’t go on sale to the public this year until June 1.

But customers who have an emergency need for firewood

– to heat their homes or use in cookstoves, for example – may be eligible for an emergency authorizat­ion to collect up to two cords of dead and down fuelwood before May 31.

Customers can call the district rangers who will determine eligibilit­y for the emergency or hardship firewood on a case-by-case basis.

While the firewood permit sale has been delayed, the good news is that a $20 permit is now valid for twice as much wood – up to 10 cords. “Dead-and-down permits, which expire on Dec. 31, 2020, are valid on the entire forest, except in designated wilderness areas,” according to a statement from the Forest Service.

“The Carson National Forest is committed to finding ways to provide our local communitie­s with the goods and services we normally provide, but it is important that we do so in a way that also provides for the safety and wellbeing of our employees and the public,” said Forest Supervisor James Duran in the statement.

On June 1, the Carson National Forest will be selling fuelwood permits through an online virtual customer service format. As conditions surroundin­g the COVID-19 pandemic evolve, the agency will adjust to best serve customers, Duran said.

The public may contact any one of the Carson National Forest offices below for more informatio­n on fuelwood permits.

Questa Ranger District

8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. (575) 586-6231

Camino Real Ranger District

8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. (575) 587-6232

El Rito Ranger District

8 (575) a.m.-noon 581-6233 and 1-4:30 p.m.

Tres Piedras Ranger District

8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. (575) 758-6234

Canjilon Ranger District

8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. (575) 684-6235

Jicarilla Ranger District

8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. (505) 632-6236

Supervisor’s Office

8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. (575) 758-6237

Stay up to date on seasonal closures by checking the Carson

National Forest website at fs.usda. gov/main/carson/home and following them on Facebook at facebook. com/CarsonNF/ and Twitter at @

CarsonNF.

Be safe and plan ahead to reduce unnecessar­y exposure and impacts on emergency personnel. Visitors to National Forests are urged to take the precaution­s recommende­d by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For tips from the CDC on preventing illnesses like the coronaviru­s, go to: cdc.gov/coronaviru­s/2019-ncov/ about/prevention.html.

 ?? FILE PHOTO ?? Firewood will not go on sale until June 1 this year in the Carson National Forest. If people have an emergency need, they can apply through their local district ranger office for an immediate hardship permit.
FILE PHOTO Firewood will not go on sale until June 1 this year in the Carson National Forest. If people have an emergency need, they can apply through their local district ranger office for an immediate hardship permit.

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