Free Firewood Programs: Where to Find Them This Winter
Cut free personal-use wood in Oregon, Pisgah and Vermont, plus Wake County deliveries for low-income homes.
Free firewood this winter comes from National Forest personal-use cutting and community wood banks. Personal-use firewood means wood you gather to heat your own home, not to sell. Working options in early November include Oregon and Washington forests, Pisgah National Forest, Vermont wood banks, and Wake County heating aid.
Each has its own season, limit, and request step.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 03, 2026.
Cut your own wood in Oregon and Washington
All National Forests in Oregon and Washington offer personal-use firewood free of charge. The USDA Forest Service says Umatilla households can take up to 12 cords per year in the May 1-Nov. 30 season Umatilla permits page.
That season ends November 30, so the window is short. Check the local forest page before you drive out. Cutting areas can close early for weather, fire risk, or road conditions.
Bring a permit where required, a map, and a way to secure your load. Cut only dead or marked wood in open areas. Leave roads and gates clear.
Why Pisgah needs no permit right now
In western North Carolina, Pisgah National Forest allows permit-free personal-use gathering through December 2026. The USDA Forest Service says nearby Nantahala still needs a district-office permit Pisgah firewood release. That split matters if you live near the forest boundary.
Confirm which forest your cutting spot sits in. Do not assume both sides share one rule. Permit-free does not mean rule-free.
Take only personal-use amounts for your household. Follow posted limits on tree size, tools, and vehicles.
Vermont wood banks that deliver to homes
Vermont's Wood Warms program harvests timber from state lands and moves it through local wood banks. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation says residents request wood directly from their closest member bank Wood Warms program page. This path fits households without a truck, saw, or cutting time.
The bank handles seasoning and delivery. Supply depends on donations, volunteers, and seasoned stock. Contact your closest member bank early in cold season.
Ask about cord amounts, delivery range, and wait times. Have dry storage ready, such as a covered rack off the ground.
Who can get Wake County heating help?
Wake County's Warmth for Wake program runs October-March. The Wake County government says it delivers free firewood or space heaters to low-income county residents Warmth for Wake assistance page. The same page says the program does not pay gas, electric, or propane bills.
It covers wood or a heater, not utility debt. That limit shapes who should apply.
- Live in Wake County and meet low-income rules
- Need firewood or a space heater, not bill payment
- Apply during the October-March season