Sierra National Forest
Credit: Sierra National Forest file photo

March 30, 2021 - Clovis, CA. – As the impacts from COVID-19 continue to be felt across the country, the Sierra National Forest (SNF) remains committed to providing services on our public lands and doing what we can to help those in need. The SNF Woodcutting Season will open its annual window beginning April 01 – November 30, 2021, allowing the opportunity to collect/gather personal-use firewood.

The SNF understands these difficult times; therefore, the SNF will again temporarily waive required fees for permits for the collection of personal-use (not to be re-sold or for commercial purposes) firewood while our offices remain physically closed. Due to recent precipitation, the recent Creek Fire and timber sales, access to fuelwood cutting locations is still limited. Forest personnel ask those in need of firewood, to avoid creating resource damage. Please stay on roadways and do not create ruts deeper than 3 inches, cut or gather only wood that is dead and down. The felling of trees is strictly prohibited. A 12 cord maximum per woodcutting season and rules for species, size and location still apply effective April 1st – November 30, 2021.  A cord is the amount of tightly piled wood in a stack four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long.

Please contact one of the SNF offices or look to the SNF webpage for information regarding free firewood collection(s), regulations and wood cutting exclusion zones. In addition to firewood permits, we will continue to provide free-use collection of Edibles (Mushrooms & Ferns) with gathering no more than the maximum authorized 5lbs as stated in the guidelines for Edibles collection. 

For information regarding Sierra National Forest closures, fuelwood cutting, edibles collection, and recreational activities please contact the High Sierra Ranger District office in Prather, Calif. at 559-855-5355 ext.0, 3300 or 3301; the Bass Lake Ranger District in North Fork, Calif. at 559-877-2218 ext. 0; or the Forest Supervisors Office in Clovis, Calif. at 559-297-0706, or go online to www.fs.usda.gov/sierra Follow us on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/SierraNF, and Twitter at www.twitter.com/SierraNF.
Source: Sierra NF.