Low-cost firewood available

The Forest Service is making non-marketable wood available to the public.

All along the Highway 20 corridor north of Sisters, the Forest Service continues to thin trees as part of a program intended to enhance forest health. The trees are already down and waiting.

Alan Heath, who administers the Forest Service firewood program in Sisters, is anxious to have the public take advantage of the offer.

"These trees are smaller than we would traditionally be able to sell in a timber sale, so we're offering them to the public at low cost -- both to provide a public service and to remove the fuels from the forest," Heath said.

The going rate is $1 per cord. There is a 10-cord limit and the wood is for personal use.

In the past, some personal-use cutting permits have been issued at no cost, but the $1 fee has been added to help offset the administrative costs of running the program.

The material designated for cutting is down pine and juniper less than 10 inches in diameter. Standing or naturally fallen trees may not be cut and permits are required while cutting or transporting the firewood.

Other specific restrictions apply and must be obtained when purchasing the permits.

"Removal of the downed wood is one step in reducing fuels to a more normal load, before going in with low-intensity prescribed burns," Heath said.

The cutting areas are snow-free and higher fire danger restrictions are not yet in effect, so this is a good time for cutters to take to the woods.

There are other reasons to start now.

"Since the wood is green, cutting early will allow the wood to season through the summer. Burning dry, seasoned wood will produce more heat and less smoke and...help protect our air quality," Heath noted.

He also pointed out that inmate work crews will begin stacking the leftover wood and slash into burn piles in a few weeks.

Open cutting areas are presently just north of town along Highway 20, but Heath stresses that open areas change at least monthly.

Therefore, even woodcutters with valid permits should check with the Forest Service office to verify open cutting areas.

For more information, call 549-2111.