Firewood cutting season started May 1 on the Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla national forests, and for the third straight year, firewood permits are free for those who cut wood for their own use but don’t sell it.

Previously, the Forest Service charged $5 per cord.

The yearly household limit for personal use firewood is 12 cords on the Umatilla, and 10 cords on the Wallowa-Whitman.

Woodcutting is allowed year-round on the Malheur National Forest. The annual limit on the Malheur is eight cords per household.

Woodcutting is not allowed from Dec. 1 through April 30 on the Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla national forests, to avoid potential vehicle damage on wet, muddy roads.

Firewood cutters on all forests are required to carry an axe, a shovel, an 8-ounce capacity or larger fire extinguisher, and have their chainsaw equipped with an approved spark arrester when cutting wood.

All three national forests sell permits to people who want to sell firewood or to cut more than the forest’s yearly household limits. These commercial, or “charge” permits cost $10 per cord. There is a minimum $20 purchase on the Wallowa-Whitman, and $30 on the Umatilla.

Commercial permits are sold only at Forest Service offices.

Free personal-use permits, though, are available at Forest Service offices as well as many businesses around the region.

Wallowa-Whitman

• Burnt River Market, Unity

• D&B Supply, Baker City

• The Gold Post, Sumpter

• Halfway Mercantile, Halfway

• Hometown Hardware, Union

• Island City Market and Deli, Island City

• Miller’s Home Center, La Grande

• Wallowa Spirits and Snacks, Wallowa

• Wallowa County Ace Hardware, Enterprise

Umatilla

• Elgin Food Town, Elgin

• Ace Hardware, Smitty’s Outpost, Hermiston

• Dale Store, Dale

• Zip Zone 2, Milton-Freewater

• Rhode’s Supply, Ukiah

• Heppner Mobil, Heppner

• Lone Elk Market, Spray

• Athena Convenience Store, Athena

• J&D’s Food Market, Pilot Rock

• Ace Hardware, Boardman

• Bi-Mart, Pendleton

• Tollgate Crossing Store, Tollgate

• Pomeroy Food Center, Last Resort, Pomeroy, Washington

• Schurman’s True Value, Clarkston, Washington

• General Store, Dayton, Washington

Each forest has specific guidelines for woodcutters, including limits on where they can cut firewood. Details are available on each forest’s website:

• www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman

• www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla

• www.fs.usda.gov/malheur