SFNF News:SANTA FE ― Firewood permits for dead and down (D&D) timber will be available for purchase at Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Headquarters and all ranger district offices Wednesday, May 1.
D&D permits are valid on most of the forest except for designated wilderness areas and other excluded sites described on fuelwood cutting maps included with the permits.
The public may purchase firewood permits at SFNF offices from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, unless otherwise noted. Customers may want to call ahead to check availability of the permits. All offices will be closed on federal holidays. The Pueblo of Jemez Welcome Center will also begin selling dead-and-down (D&D) permits May 17 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.
The nonrefundable D&D permits are for personal use only and may be purchased for $20 for five cords with a maximum of 15 cords per household per year.
Customers may purchase permits by check, credit/debit card or cash through Dec. 21, 2019. Permit purchasers will receive load tags, a fuelwood cutting map and guidelines for harvesting the wood.
Thinning project areas where small-diameter trees have been removed to improve forest health and resilience to insects and disease can be excellent sources of fuelwood since thinning crews leave the downed trees on the ground for permit holders to remove. Dead and down timber in the following areas may vary depending on the number of cords previously removed by other permit holders.
- Coyote Ranger District: Forest Road (FR) 77 and FR 103
- Cuba Ranger District: La Jara and Moya
- Jemez Ranger District: FR 376
- Española Ranger District: Caja del Rio, Borrego Mesa, FR 144, FR 27 and FR 31. Note: Areas around Camp May and American Springs on the west side of the Española district are not yet available to D&D permit holders while the SFNF assesses the impact of recent tree “blowdowns” on habitat for the Jemez Mountains salamander, a protected species under the Endangered Species Act. Do not remove wood from these areas.
- Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District: Viveash Fire area, La Cueva, Walker Flats and Tecolote. Other D&D areas will be available later in the fall.
The only green fuelwood area on the SFNF is Rowe Mesa on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District. Green fuelwood permits can be purchased at Forest Headquarters and the Pecos and Las Vegas District Offices. Green fuelwood permits can be purchased for $20 for two cords, and the permits are good for one month from date of purchase.
Permit holders should be prepared for unpredictable weather and are advised to check with the local Ranger District office or the New Mexico Department of Transportation website for current road and weather conditions. Firewood permit holders should also make sure they have the appropriate equipment to harvest the wood and to safely transport it home. That includes nails or some other method to secure load tags to the wood. Forest Service staff may be in the cutting areas to check permits and answer questions.
For additional information about SFNF firewood permits, contact Forest Headquarters at 505.438.5300.
