Community News

News Release: Kaibab National Forest extends fuelwood collection season on the Williams & Tusayan Districts

December 15, 2020

 Williams, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2020 The Kaibab National Forest is extending the fuelwood collection season in specific areas on the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts for those woodcutters who obtain a permit that is purchased by December 30, 2020. Only those permit holders will be able to take advantage of the two-month extension, which will go through the end of February 2021.

 Specifically, those permit holders will be authorized to collect firewood on the two districts until February 28, 2021 rather than the typical season normally ending December 31, 2020.

 Reminders:

·        No permits will be sold after December 30th.

·        If hazardous weather conditions occur during this time, wood cutting may close early to reduce excess resource damage to the roads as well as regard for human safety out on the forest.

·        Permits will be not offered in person in order to protect public and employee health during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, requests can be made over the phone with the permit, maps and tags being sent via mail. This process can be done during normal business hours and not available during weekends or federal holidays.

·        Review our fuelwood page on the Kaibab N.F. at bit.ly/KNFfuelwood for details.

 "With varying degrees of COVID-19 restrictions in place throughout this past year many people are behind in their fuelwood cutting needs," said Andy Kelher, Kaibab N.F. Deputy District Ranger for the Williams & Tusayan districts. "With this in mind, the Kaibab has extended the collection season on the southern districts of the Kaibab, which will not only help our woodcutters heat their homes this winter, but will also help clear out dead and down woody materials that could fuel future wildfires."

 

All firewood permits issued by the Kaibab National Forest will include a map and detailed cutting regulations as well as green reusable load tags, which must be physically attached to each load of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The goal of this load tagging system is to ensure accountability for wood removed from the forest and to help plan future fuelwood cutting areas to meet public needs and forest restoration objectives.

 

Fuelwood cutting permits can be obtained at the following locations, excluding weekends and federal holidays:

·        Williams Ranger District, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (928) 635-5600

·        Tusayan Ranger District, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (928) 638-2443

 

The fuelwood gathering season on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest ended on November 30 and will not be extended. Officials anticipate that the 2021 season on the North Kaibab district will begin around May 1, 2021.

 

Kaibab National Forest information is also available through the following sources:

·        Kaibab National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

·        Kaibab National Forest personal use fuelwood: bit.ly/KNFfuelwood

·        Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF 

·        Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF 

·        Flickr: bit.ly/KaibabNFPhotos