JACKSON, Wyo. — It’s never too early to start thinking about next winter’s firewood stash.
Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) will begin selling personal-use firewood permits on Friday, May 15. These permits can be purchased at the Jackson Ranger District office at 340 North Cache Street, or over the phone and the permit will be mailed. Firewood on BTNF costs $7 per cord, with a minimum purchase of five cords for $35, and a maximum of 10 cords.
“All forest off-road travel restrictions apply and will be enforced, thus requiring each firewood gatherer to know where they are and to be mindful of any current travel restrictions,” reads an announcement from BTNF. Those collecting firewood should be prepared for rough Forest Service road conditions and use a high-clearance vehicle.
While firewood can be collected from various places within BTNF, there are currently log decks on Phillips Ridge that were cut and stacked last summer during the fuel reduction operations. BTNF Public Affairs Specialist CJ Adams told Buckrail in March that patrols will be ongoing in the area to ensure firewood cutting and removal is done with proper permitting. Permits should be signed and marked with the date, time and quantity of wood being removed; then, the permit load tags should be attached to the wood and visible to Forest Service officers.
Log decks on Phillips Ridge were originally stacked 6 to 8 feet high, and most logs were cut about 16 feet long. Firewood is required to be no longer than 8 feet when being removed from the forest. Adams warned that decks can move when log segments are taken, and people should be aware of moving logs to avoid being injured or pinned.
“Slow down and anticipate oncoming vehicle traffic,” Adams wrote in an email. “Phillips Ridge Road is rough, has minimal turnouts in portions of the road, so passing may be difficult or it may require backing to get off to the side of the road. Phillips Ridge Road is a busy recreation area, with hiking trails and mountain bike trails crossing the road in several places. There is also roadside camping in the designated dispersed camp areas and fall hunting use to be aware of.”
Areas of the road near the log decks will be marked with arrows for recommended direction of traffic. Trailers are not recommended as it could be difficult to turn around and share the road. Friends of the Bridger-Teton posted to Facebook, saying that firewood gatherers should only collect downed wood, not live trees, and that chainsaws should have a spark arrester. All firewood is first come, first served. Permits are still valid in other areas of BTNF until the expiration date and are non-refundable. BTNF asks the public to respect designated no-cut log deck areas.
