PENDLETON —Personal-use firewood cutting on the Umatilla National Forest will end Tuesday, Nov. 30. Firewood permits will not be available again until May 2022, the Umatilla National Forest announced in a press release.

The public should take additional precautions when cutting firewood late in the fall when road and soil conditions become slick, soggy and saturated, the press release stated. Firewood cutters should be prepared for winter weather conditions.

“Mountain travel will require extreme care to avoid getting stuck in the mud or snow and causing resource damage to the land and vegetation,” per the release.

Another concern for late season firewood cutting is the misidentification of live or dead western larch, known as tamarack, a highly prized firewood, according to the Umatilla National Forest. Larch needles turn yellow and fall off at the end of the growing season, which can cause the tree to appear dead when in fact it is only dormant. Tips on identifying live larch are in the firewood guide that accompanies each firewood permit.

Firewood permits can be purchased at any Umatilla National Forest office by appointment only or at several local businesses in the community. Permits cost $5 per cord with a minimum purchase of four cords for $20. A maximum purchase of 12 cords total, per household, is allowed from national forest lands during the calendar year.

In 2022, personal-use firewood permits will transition to a free use firewood program on all national forests in Oregon and Washington. Those who receive free use firewood permits may use firewood for cutting, manufacturing, handling or other processing, but not for resale. Charge permits are available for individuals who wish to resell firewood. The regional minimum rate for firewood charge permits will remain unchanged at $5 per cord.

For more information on the firewood program contact the Umatilla National Forest at the following:

Supervisor’s office: 541-278-3716.

website: www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla/.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UmatillaNF.

Twitter: @UmatillaNF.