Fuelwood permit sales begin May 15

JEROME, Idaho (KIFI) – The 2024 fuelwood season on the Sawtooth National Forest begins May 15 with the sale of fuelwood permits.

Personal-use permits will cost $6.25 per cord, with a 4-cord minimum and a 10-cord maximum per household, and are valid through Nov. 30 within the Boise, Payette and Sawtooth national forests.

These permits will be available at all district and area offices and the Supervisor’s Office. The following local vendors will also sell the fuelwood permits:

• Cal Ranch in Burley - 208-678-7610
• Rock Creek General Store in Hansen - 208-423-5659
• Hansen Quick Stop & Go in Hansen - 208-423-9900
• Sawtooth Wood Products in Bellevue - 208-788-4705
• Stanley Museum in Stanley - 208-774-3517

“Please check this year’s fuelwood brochure and current Motor Vehicle Use Maps to make sure you are cutting in an area open to fuelwood gathering,” Timber Program Manager Nelson Mills said.

Fuelwood brochures are issued with each permit. Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available for downloading on personal devices through the Avenza Maps application and online HERE .

Fuelwood gatherers are reminded to regularly check the Alerts & Notices section of the Sawtooth National Forest website HERE for important information that may impact their fuelwood gathering plans.

Permit holders are encouraged to cut fuelwood early in the year because fire restrictions may impact the cutting season later in the summer. Early season fuelwood cutters are asked to use caution, avoiding wet muddy roads, where travel may cause resource damage.

The Minidoka Ranger District has set up four commercial fuelwood gathering areas for small businesses wishing to harvest fuelwood for resale. These gathering areas will be open on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to additional regulations beyond those established for personal-use permits.