MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Personal use firewood permits will be available for purchase from the Mendocino National Forest starting Monday, April 3.

Permits are $5 per cord of wood, with a minimum purchase of four cords for $20. The permits are good through Dec. 31. All firewood removed must be dead and down. It is illegal to remove firewood from the National Forest without a valid permit.

Permits are available in person or by mail from one of the Forest offices listed below. A third party authorization form to allow another person to cut wood for the permit holder is available for individuals unable to cut the wood themselves.

The form needs to be requested at the time of purchase. All firewood permit sales are final, with no refunds. Permittees will receive tags and a map of the Forest.

Permit holders should be aware that federal and state quarantines to prevent the spread of sudden oak death (SOD) are in effect for Lake and Mendocino Counties.

Any firewood cut in these counties can only be transported into other SOD quarantine counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.

Firewood permits can be purchased from the following offices.

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office/Grindstone Ranger District Office
825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988
530-934-3316
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Stonyford Work Center
5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road, Stonyford, CA, 95979
530-963-3128
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1- 4:30 p.m.

Covelo Ranger Station
78150 Covelo Road, Covelo, CA 95428
707-983-6118
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4:30 p.m.

Upper Lake Ranger Station
10025 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake, CA 95485
707-275-2361
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4:30 p.m.

Gathering firewood is important to many individuals and families surrounding the Mendocino National Forest.

Following are some tips to remember:

· Plan your trip. Check the weather, bring water, emergency food, and the appropriate gear for the season when you are gathering firewood. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave. Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

· Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of unexpected weather that may change road conditions quickly. Wet dirt roads can turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources.

· As fire season approaches, be aware of fire restrictions or closure orders that may be in effect. Make sure you have a spark arrester on chainsaws and any other mechanical equipment being used.

· Ensure you are cutting firewood on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.

· Cell phones are unreliable in many parts of the forest.

· Some areas may not be accessible for cutting due to winter storm damage.

· Please check with local offices for current information before traveling to the forest.

For more information, please visit the forest Web site https://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino/ , follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MendocinoNF/ and Twitter @MendocinoNF.