Local residents relying upon firewood from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest to heat their homes during the winter should always know what the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The information is posted at ranger station offices and also available on the Washington State Department of Natural Resources website, www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl.
Currently, the IFPL is Level I for all woodcutting zones in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Under Level 1 woodcutting is permitted all day long.
A woodcutting permit is required. A minimum firewood permit is $20 for four cords of wood. The cost for permits over the four-cord minimum is $5 per cord (maximum 12 cords per household per year) and cash or checks are preferred. Woodcutting permits are non-refundable.
Permits are available at all Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest offices. The permit and woodcutting stubs must be in the woodcutter’s possession when cutting firewood.
Firewood permits are good through Dec. 31 in the calendar year they are purchased.
