Staff writers
Firewood in Gippsland can be gathered from designated firewood collection areas in state forests for personal use.
Under the current coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, if firewood is essential for home heating or cooking people can travel to the closest designated firewood collection area as long as physical distancing requirements are followed.
People are urged to stay as close to home as possible.
Gippsland Deputy Chief Fire Officer Geoff Conway said there is an increased demand for domestic firewood which is putting strain on the limited availability in the region.
“Regular updates on available firewood are being provided to communities to ensure people can collect the firewood they need safely,” he said.
Find out more about your local collection areas here: www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood
As a result of bushfire preparedness works in the Latrobe, Macalister and Tambo districts, there are additional firewood collection areas this spring in Walhalla, Cobbannah and Colquhoun State Forest.
“Firewood collection areas are being more realistically mapped for the benefit of communities to reflect where firewood can be practically and legally collected,” DCFO Conway said.
“All firewood collection areas in Gippsland have changed from block to roadside areas where firewood can be collected within 50 metres of a road.
“Please note that due to a lack of available firewood there will be no collection areas available south of the Princes Highway in Latrobe District in 2021.”
