Even wood for heating costs more

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) - Homeowners hoping to save on heating costs this winter may find that even using woodburning stoves and fireplaces will cost more. Wood buyers in northeast Wyoming will find that a cord of fire wood will run between $75 and $100.

Jake Rinker, a 17-year old high school student, sells cottonwood for $85 a cord, $10 higher than last year.

"It has gone up mostly because of gas," Rinker said.

Rinker and his partner, Trevor Haney, collect and deliver wood by the cord - a 4-foot high, 4-foot wide, 8-foot long stack.

This year, they are also selling pine for $100 a cord.

"That is higher because we have to go higher to get it. We go about 30 miles to get the cottonwood and 120 miles for the pine," he said. "It kind of goes person to person. If they can't pay that much, we are flexible."

So far this year, business has been good.

"There is quite a bit of wood, but we have to wait until it is a little wetter so that we don't start any fires. We have to be careful with the chainsaws."

However, it is still fairly inexpensive to cut your own. Wood burners who prefer to collect their own fuel can get permits to gather wood in some forests.

A Black Hills National Forest Bearlodge Ranger District permit costs $20 for up to four cords. Each extra cord up to 10 cords is $5, said Susan Kennedy, office automation clerk. A truck with an 8-foot bed stacked to the top of the cab would hold one cord.

"We have several piles of wood available. The only firewood people are allowed to collect is wood that is down on the ground. They are not allowed to cut any standing dead trees. But there are several piles scattered throughout the district," said Jeanette Timm, recreation timber and mineral forester in the Bearlodge Ranger District.

The wood piles in the Black Hills National Forest are mostly located near roads to make it easier to be collected.

In the Big Horn National Forest, a permit costs $22.50 for up to three cords, $30 for four cords, $37.50 for five cords, $45 for six cords, $52.50 for seven cords, $60 for eight cords, $67.50 for nine cords and $75 for 10 cords.

Permits can be bought at forest service offices in person with a photo I.D.

Each forest has a different set of rules, regulations and restrictions.

In the Big Horns, wood collection is not allowed in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area.

But both forests require a permit.

While most fire bans have been lifted, forest officials urge wood collectors to be cautious when collecting wood.

"We have lifted restrictions but there are still opportunities for fires to start. They should still be fire safe," Timm said.

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 18, 2000