Superintendent T. John Hillmer announced today that Wilson’s Creek National
Battlefield is issuing special use permits for the removal of hazardous
fuels within the park. The action is necessary to dispose of logs
generated by the removal of hazardous trees along roads and trails. The
hazardous trees were removed because they were a threat to the health and
safety of the public, forest health, archeological resources, and a
National Register property. Firewood permits are not available to
commercial dealers.
The logs are stock piled in the maintenance area and consist of mixed
hardwood 6-24 inches in diameter and 2-8 feet in length. Sorting of wood
outside assigned lots will not be permitted. The applicants must safely
load and remove the wood using proper safety equipment (i.e. hard hat, eye
protection, chainsaw chaps, leather gloves, and leather boots). Minimal
use of saws and splitting tools will be allowed on site to facilitate
loading, however, sawing and splitting into firewood should be done
off-site.
Fire wood permits will be issued to the first 5 applicants, per
availability of wood. There will be no charge for the permit. There is a
limit of one cord of wood per applicant. Applications can be filled out at
the Front Desk located in the Visitors Center.
Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis at the
Visitor Center 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. After the
application has been filled out, appointments to inspect and pick-up the
wood can be made by calling Allen Eisenhauer at 417-838-9962. Appointments
will be scheduled during the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday through
Friday.
Administered by the National Park Service, Wilson’s Creek National
Battlefield preserves the site of the first major battle of the Civil War
in the West. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is located 10 miles
southwest of Springfield, Missouri at the intersection of Highway ZZ and
Farm Road 182.
