Single Publication

 TAOS, NM – Sept. 2, 2022 – Districts on the Carson and Santa Fe national forests most impacted by the Calf Canyon Fire are now issuing free personal-use fuelwood permits for up to five cords of dead and down timber.

Carson free-use permits will be valid for collecting firewood on the Camino Real and Questa ranger districts outside the current fire closure. Permit holders will receive load tags, a fuelwood cutting map and guidelines for harvesting the wood.

“Wood from these mountains has been sustaining a traditional way of life in Northern New Mexico for centuries. We understand how important this resource is to our communities,” Forest Supervisor

James Duran said. “We are doing everything we can to help the communities impacted by the fire

prepare for the coming winter.”

Carson National Forest free-use permits can be obtained at:

·         Camino Real Ranger Station – 15160 State Road 75, Penasco, NM 87553 – (575) 587-2255

·         Questa Ranger Station – 184 State Hwy 38, Questa, NM 87556 – (575) 586-0520

·         Supervisor’s Office – 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571 – (575) 758-6200

Free-use permits valid for the Santa Fe National Forest are also available at the Santa Fe Supervisor’s Office in Santa Fe and the Pecos and Las Vegas ranger stations. The free-use permits are a separate program from the fuelwood distribution sites that will be managing the logs from fuelbreaks implemented during fire suppression. Once the distribution plan is finalized, the forests will issue a separate news release.

The free-use permits are good for up to five cords and can be used in conjunction with the $20 permits that allow permit holders to collect up to 10 cords. Both permits expire on Dec. 31, 2022. The free-use permits are only valid on the Camino Real and Questa ranger districts. All other districts on the Carson National Forest require a paid permit. Fuelwood load tags must be attached to each quarter of cord or less of firewood, punched or marked correctly, and visible from the vehicle's rear before transport.

Permit holders should be prepared for unpredictable weather and are advised to check with the local Ranger District office (Santa Fe, Carson) or the New Mexico Department of Transportation website for current road and weather conditions. As a reminder, only travel on roads designated open on the

Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) (Carson, Santa Fe) unless the permit specifies otherwise or is within a closure area. MVUMs are available for download and paper maps are free at all Forest Service Offices.

Firewood permit holders should also ensure they have the appropriate equipment to harvest and safely transport the wood home. Forest Service staff may be in the cutting areas to check permits and answer questions.