Collecting Firewood in the Creston Community Forest
- Creston Community Forest
- May 15
- 3 min read
Collecting Firewood in the Creston Community Forest (the Selkirk Forest District): What You Need to Know
Did you know that you need permission to collect firewood from our forestry blocks? This permission comes in the form of a Free Use Permit for Firewood – for Domestic Purposes Only. This permit is free of charge and valid only within the Selkirk Forest District, which includes the Arrow, Boundary, Kootenay Lake, and Creston areas.
What Does the Permit Allow?
This permit authorizes you to:
Collect dead and downed wood only (no live trees or standing dead permitted)
Gather up to 5 cords per calendar year (approx. 18 cubic metres or 6–8 pick-up loads)
Use the wood for personal, domestic use only—not for resale or commercial purposes
Important Regulations to Follow
When collecting firewood, the following rules apply under Section 48(1)(b) of the Forest Act:
You must fill out, sign, and carry your permit with you while cutting or transporting firewood.
You must be able to produce your permit if asked by a Natural Resource Officer, Conservation Officer, or Peace Officer
The permit is not transferable
Cut only DEAD conifer trees (standing or down). Conifer trees that have been blown down or broken off, shall ONLY be cut for firewood if there are no green needles left on the tree(s). No cutting of deciduous trees is allowed under this permit.
Cutting of any decked logs is PROHIBITED and may be subject to criminal charges of theft under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Wildlife Values are to be recognized. No trees greater than 50 cm (approximately 20 inch) in diameter as measured at stump height (30cm from germination) shall be cut under this permit. Care shall also be taken to not cut, damage or remove trees showing signs of wildlife use (see last page). Watch especially for trees posted with a “Wildlife Tree” sign. It is an offense under the Wildlife Act to destroy any active bird nest. Look carefully before you cut!
** See image of Wildlife Tree Characteristics on the Permit and on our ‘Firewood’ webpage located on our website. The link to view both is listed below.
PERMISSION MUST FIRST BE GRANTED from the Creston Community Forest before cutting a tree within these area based tenures using this permit.
The debris must be cleared from roads, roadside ditches, culvert inlets and outlets prior to leaving the area with a load of firewood.
Note: whenever you cut, you should have at least one functional shovel and one fire extinguisher present at all times. Follow all posted instructions in respect to the use of the road. Do not block roads under active use with your vehicle or firewood. Work safe and drive carefully.
This permit is issued under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and associated regulations. Permit holders are expected to collect responsibly, avoid damage to the land, and leave no trace. Please see the map of permit required area in this post.
How to Get Your Free Use Permit
To make things easy, we’ve created a dedicated page on our website where you can download and fill out your permit:
Please read all instructions carefully before heading out. Our goal is to keep firewood collection safe, sustainable, and respectful of the land we all share.
