Permits to cut firewood on the San Juan National Forest are now on sale at agency offices and some stores. A minimum purchase of $20 allows the bearer to gather two-and-a-half cords of dead and downed firewood from the San Juan National Forest for personal use prior to Dec. 31.

Permits are divided into five separate tags; each tag is good for one-half cord of firewood. Tags can be used separately or all at one time. The appropriate number of tags must be validated and securely fastened to the load of firewood and visible before the vehicle is driven from the place where the firewood was gathered.

One household may purchase permits for up to 10 cords of firewood per year for personal use. Gathering firewood for resale requires a different commercial permit.

Permits, which come with a brochure and map, are available at the Columbine Ranger District office in Bayfield; San Juan Public Lands Center at 15 Burnett Ct. in Durango; Kroeger's Ace Hardware in Durango; Pagosa Ranger District office at 2nd and Pagosa St. in Pagosa Springs; Cox Conoco in Mancos; the Dolores Public Lands office, 29211 Hwy. 184, and the Dolores Food Market, 400 Railroad Ave. in Dolores; and the Silverton Public Lands office at 1468 Greene St.

Restrictions apply to the cutting of standing dead ponderosa pine and live Gambel oak. Permit holders are expected to be familiar with these regulations. Information on firewood gathering regulations is also available online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/sanjuan/passes-permits/forestproducts (click on "Firewood Cutting Rules")

Information on up-to-date conditions of specific forest roads is posted online at www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan/ (click on "San Juan Forest Road Info" in the right-hand column).

For more information, contact the San Juan Public Lands Center at 247-4874.