Firewood & Christmas tree permits now available from Mendocino National Forest at no cost

By Mendo Voice Staff | November 29, 2020

Snow in the Mendocino National Forest, photo from the Mendocino National Forest Facebook page.

Snow in the Mendocino National Forest in October, 2017, photo from the Mendocino National Forest Facebook page.

MENDOCINO Co., 11/25/20 — Free personal use firewood permits and Christmas tree permits are available for the Mendocino National Forest, now through December 31, 2020. The offices of the United States Forest Services are not currently open due to the pandemic, but residents can request a permit by phone, mail, or apply online. All permits will be mailed, and so will take additional time.

Firewood can only be collected according to permit regulations and in designated areas; portions of the Mendocino National Forest remain closed after the August Complex. Christmas tree permits are $10 and limited one per family; they can be applied for by phone, online, or mail, or purchased at M & M Feed or Keith’s in Covelo.

Here’s the full announcements from USFS:

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As the impacts from COVID-19 and wildfires continue to be felt across the country, the US Forest Service is committed to providing services on our public lands and doing what we can to help those in need. As such, the Mendocino National Forest will continue to issue free personal-use firewood permits through December 31, 2020.

Woodcutters are required to hold a free personal-use firewood permit and follow all regulations within that permit. With all Mendocino National Forest offices closed to the public, all permits will be mailed, so allow extra time for delivery. The permit package will include the permit, a firewood map and firewood tags. These permits are only valid on Mendocino National Forest lands open to firewood cutting. To receive a permit by mail, call any of the Mendocino National Forest ranger district offices Monday through Friday from 8 to 4:30 pm:

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Supervisor’s Office Grindstone Ranger District, 530-934-3316
Upper Lake Ranger District, 707-275-2361
Covelo Ranger District, 707-983-6118

For the Stonyford Work Center, please call Tuesday through Thursday from 8 to 4:30 pm:

Stonyford Work Center, 530-963-3128

Firewood cutters may also complete a personal-use firewood request form online and send it through the mail. The form includes the mailing address of our offices. Here is the online form: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5414651.pdf

It is the responsibility of the permit holder to be aware of the daily firewood-cutting restrictions in effect. Information can be obtained by calling this 24-hour line, 530-934-1240. In addition, there is a fire area closure for the August Complex in effect. Please see all of the details here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd807574.pdf

Additional information may be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mendocino/passes-permits/forestproducts/?cid=FSBDEV3_004471

Christmas tree permit sales for the Mendocino National Forest will begin Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. The permits can be purchased for $10 each, limited to one per household. The number of permits is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits are good for this year only.

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This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are no in-person sales at Mendocino National Forest offices. Permits will be available only through the mail or by one of the vendors listed below. To purchase a permit by mail, please see the Mail Order Form and print name, mailing address and phone number for each permit purchased. Include a check or money order made out to “USDA Forest Service” for $10 for each permit and send it to either the Willows, Stonyford, Upper Lake or Covelo offices with “Christmas Tree Permit” written on the outside of the envelope. Mail-in requests received after December 14 will not be filled.

Due to the August Complex fire closure, Christmas tree cutting will be allowed only in specific areas in the Mendocino National Forest outside the closure area. See the map here. The permittee will receive a map of the forest and a tree tag. Persons must be at least 18 years old to purchase the permit. All Christmas tree permit sales are final; no refunds will be made. For more information check the forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mendocino/passes-permits/forestproducts/?cid=FSBDEV3_004473

It is important to note that not all national forests offer the opportunity to obtain Christmas trees for personal use, and each national forest has different sale dates. Please check with the national forest in which you are interested to learn about the specifics of their program.

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To ensure that your visit to the Mendocino National Forest is an enjoyable experience, please follow these important tips:

Plan your trip, check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, food, tire chains, shovel, a saw or axe to cut your tree and a tarp and rope to bring it home.

Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Cut your tree early in the season before favorite cutting areas can’t be reached because of snow.

Make sure you are cutting a tree on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.

Cut the tree as close as possible to the ground and leave as little of a stump as possible. Attach the permit on the tree where it will be easily visible with the tree packed or tied on your vehicle for transport home.