Fort Indiantown Gap has implemented a new firewood and wood chip sales program offering an opportunity for the general public to purchase firewood and wood chips for an economical price from the installation.

“We have a tradition of excellence when it comes to forest and environmental management here at the installation,” said Lt. Col. Robert Hepner, garrison commander. “This program is intended to both meet our goal of outstanding environmental stewardship and provide a service to those in the community who use firewood.”

Members of the public are permitted, with arranged access, to come to a secure yard at the Lebanon County installation to purchase wood chips or firewood. A scoop of wood chips costs $10 per tractor scoop, and logs range from $25 a load for a full 8 foot-size pick-up truck to $50 per cord for a trailer. 

The logs are pre-cut in 8 to 10 foot lengths and customers are responsible for cutting and loading their own firewood at their own risk.

“The trees being used for this program have already been harvested for small projects or are dead and dying trees that pose a threat to the forest,” said Shannon Henry, conservation division chief and manager of the forestry program. “This helps maintain a healthy forest here on the installation and is part of our robust conservation efforts."

Sales are cash only and the firewood and wood chips are for personal use only. Proceeds from the sales go to support the maintenance of the grinder and the State Armory Trust Fund.

The wood yard is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Requests for access must be arranged by phoning the Bureau of Reservation Maintenance at 717-861-8870 or the Forestry Department at 717-861-2882.

For more information, visit Fort Indiantown Gap’s Hunting, Fishing & Wood Gathering webpage.

12/15/2014