Skip to main content

US Forest Service

Know Before You Go When Gathering Firewood (USDA)

Gathering Firewood for Personal Use

Hot, windy days and drought conditions require an extra level of awareness and safety. You can help prevent wildfires by following these tips.

BEFORE YOU GO

  • Get a permit and a map. Know where you can gather firewood on public lands, and check for any fire restrictions.
  • Check the weather. Postpone cutting on hot, dry and windy days. Watch for fire danger ratings and red flag warnings. Be ready to put out your fire.
  • Pack a shovel, fire extinguisher, and a bucket of water. If your carelessness starts a wildfire, you may have to pay suppression costs.

STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS

  • Your chainsaw must have a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester.
  • A chemical or pressurized fire extinguisher (min. rating 2A).
  • A round-pointed shovel with a length of at least 35 inches.
Size
8.5x11
Geographic Area
Thumbnail
 knowgofirewoodposterD.jpg
Cause
Language
Product
Year
2017

Fire restrictions on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

11x17 Fire restrictions poster for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

Size
11x17
Geographic Area
Thumbnail
Fire restrictions on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest; Red prohibited symbol with flame underneath; graphics of permitted campfire alternatives.
Cause
Language
Product
Target Audience
Year
2018

No Fires; Permitted and Prohibited Fires

11x17 fire restrictions poster. PERMITTED: Campfires are only allowed in established metal fire rings within developed areas such as campgrounds; Pressurized gas stoves and space heating devices that can be quickly turned off are allowed; Portable stoves and lanterns using liquid petroleum fuels. PROHIBITED: No open fires are allowed in dispersed, backcountry areas. Wood and charcoal fires, charcoal grills, and portable braziers are prohibited. Fires are prohibited in rock fire pits and rock fire rings.

Size
11x17
Geographic Area
Thumbnail
Nor fires in red at a slant, with red slash prohibited symbol over flames. Icons of prohibited and permitted activities
Cause
Language
Product
Target Audience
Year
2018

No Fires Due to Wildfire Danger Restrictions, 11x17

11x17 poster describing restrictions. All open fires are prohibited on the Deschutes National Forest, the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, and the Prineville District, BLM. Contains  smoking and campfire restrictions and campfire alternatives.

Size
11x17
Geographic Area
Thumbnail
No fires due to wildfire danger, flame under red prohibited slash symbol. Icons with prohibited and permitted activities for smoking restrictions, campfire alternatives, and portal signs for 4 national forests,
Cause
Language
Product
Target Audience
Year
2018

Prevent Wildfires While Target Shooting (Target near rock)

Prevent Wildfires While Target Shooting flyer. 

  • Bring a shovel and water or fire extinguisher to put out a fire.
  • Place your targets on dirt or gravel, away from grass.
  • If fire danger is high, consider shooting at an established outdoor or indoor range.
  • Don’t shoot with steel core ammo.
  • Exploding targets, tracer ammo and incendiary ammo are illegal on public lands.
  • Don’t shoot trash like TVs or other appliances.
  • Don’t smoke or park near dry grass.
Size
8.5x11
Geographic Area
Thumbnail
Prevent wildfires while target shooting. Border with target sheet on a post, in front of a rock and spark near burning grass in background. Forest Service shield, National Forest Portal sign
Language
Target Audience
Year
2018

License Holder insert

This is a business card size insert that printed front and back on preforated Avery business card stock. It contains more specific customized information about current restrictions and can be placed into hunting fishing license holders.

Size
3.5x2
Thumbnail
Prohibited: exploding targets, tracer rounds and fireworks; respected access is open access; help protect your public lands
Language
Target Audience
Year
2018
Subscribe to US Forest Service

NWCG Latest Announcements

2024 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2024
Contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee 

As we approach the 2024 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30 to July 6, we dedicate this time to thoughtfully reviewing and recognizing the events of the 2018 Mendocino Complex. As such, this year’s theme of “Learning From the Mendocino Complex” embodies a longstanding hallmark of WOR, honoring through learning.

Throughout the week, our energy will be directed toward fostering generative conversations in briefing rooms and at tailgates.

References:

6 Minutes for Safety - 2024 Week of Remembrance

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Updated NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Date: June 24, 2024
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee 

The June 2024 update of the NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236, is now available to meet the current needs for incident management typing.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment should be used to evaluate firefighter safety issues, assess risk, and identify the appropriate incident management organization based on incident complexity. Assessing risk, determining incident complexity, and identifying an appropriate incident management organization is a subjective process based on examining a combination of indicators or factors, which can change over time.

References:

NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Operations Branch Director (OPBD) Next Gen PTB Available

Date: June 10, 2024
Contact: NWCG Feedback 

The NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Branch Director (OPBD), PMS 311-109 is now available for use within the OPBD position qualification pathway. As part of the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), the OPBD Next Gen PTB was developed and the position qualification pathway updated.

More information about the Next Gen PTB format can be found on the NWCG Position Task Book webpage.

References:

Operations Branch Director Position Page

Operations Branch Director Next Gen PTB

NWCG Position Task Books

Updated NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902

Date: June 5, 2024
Contact: NWCG Incident Business Committee 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902 is now available. The uniform application of interagency incident business management standards is critical to interagency fire operations. PMS 902 assists NWCG agencies in constructively working together to provide effective execution of each agency's incident business management program.

References:

PMS 902