Find a firewood collection area

This autumn will see the Hume region open with 110 firewood collection areas from Sunday 1 March. An additional 22 firewood collection areas, mostly around fire-affected areas, will be progressively opened as crews work to reduce tree hazards. This includes 8 firewood depots where wood from hazardous tree and other works will be deposited when available. Areas subject to seasonal road closures will be unavailable from or before Monday 8 June.

Following the very dry summer, those using chainsaws are reminded to follow the firewood collection rules regarding Total Fire Ban days, spark arresters and refuelling. It may be useful to bring additional equipment such as water, extinguisher or garden digging tools. Remember – we’ve opened the firewood season but one spark from your chainsaw can start a fire.

Please avoid collecting firewood during or immediately after heavy rainfall for your own safety and to ensure that your car doesn’t become bogged due to muddy tracks. Be aware that there is an increased risk of flash-flooding along waterways within and downstream of burnt areas. Check overhead for dangerous  branches when parking and whilst collecting firewood.

Murray Goldfields

Domestic firewood collection areas are only located in forests, parks and reserves where domestic firewood collection is allowed and where wood is available on the ground due to natural fall or forest and fire management work. You may need to travel to collection areas further away from your local area.

Maps will be live on Wednesday 1 April on this page.

To prioritise local communities' access to available firewood, collection from designated firewood areas in state forests in parts of Central and Northern Victoria will be limited to residents of specific local shires. Please verify you are eligible to collect before you arrive.

DEECA cannot guarantee the availability of dry firewood. Most of the firewood available during the autumn season is green and will need to be stored for 8-12 months before burning. Green firewood is from recently felled trees which still contain moisture and must dry out before use.

Financial assistance is available for people on low incomes who buy firewood, visit energy concession and support.

Central Victoria

Designated firewood collection areas in state forests in Central Victoria will be restricted to residents of specific local councils. These rules aim to ensure that local communities have greater access to available firewood into the future.

While firewood is free to collect, supply is not unlimited. This means firewood needs to be managed responsibly to ensure environmental sustainability.

Residents from the following Local Government Areas can collect firewood from Central Victorian State forests:

• Buloke Shire Council
• Greater Shepparton City Council
• Mt Alexander Shire Council
• Campaspe Shire Council
• Hepburn Shire Council
• Northern Grampians Shire Council
• Central Goldfields Shire Council
• Loddon Shire Council
• Pyrenees Shire Council
• Gannawarra Shire Council
• Macedon Ranges Shire Council
• Strathbogie Shire Council
• City of Greater Bendigo
• Mitchell Shire Council

Residents from outside the above Local Government Areas, cannot collect firewood from designated firewood collection areas in state forests in Central Victoria.

This autumn there are 18 firewood collection areas opening on Wednesday 1 April, with more planned for later in the season.

Firewood collectors may be asked to prove their address when collecting firewood

Gunbower and Benwell State Forest

Firewood is available this autumn in the Gunbower and Benwell State Forests.

Restrictions are in place for firewood collection in Gunbower and Benwell State Forests. Only residents from Campaspe Shire Council, Gannawarra Shire Council, Loddon Shire Council and Swan Hill Rural City Council can collect from Benwell State Forest.

Parks Victoria

Parks Victoria key messages:

Residents of the Rural City of Mildura and Swan Hill Rural City are eligible to collect firewood in the Robinvale firewood collection areas during the autumn 2026 collection period.

Domestic firewood on public land is a limited resource that needs to be carefully managed. It is important for forest health, wildlife habitat, public safety and the sustainability of firewood resources that local communities rely on, that they are managed this way.

Many animals rely on fallen timber and tree hollows for habitat. Crevices under logs and hollows in trees provide safe places for mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates to live and are the perfect place to protect their young from predators. Fallen timber and tree hollows also have value far beyond basic shelter, providing food resources and recycling nutrients in the ecosystem as it decays.

We encourage the community to consider where the firewood they get comes from. Victorians are urged to ask questions before they buy, to avoid inadvertently supporting illegal firewood operators and to reduce the impact of these illegal activities on our environment.

Class of person restrictions apply, firewood collectors may be asked to prove their address when collecting firewood.

Firewood collection safety and access reminder

Recent unseasonal heavy rainfall and local thunderstorms in late February have left many forest tracks muddy, soft and vulnerable to damage. Firewood collectors are reminded to avoid entering forest areas during or immediately after significant rainfall.

Driving on wet tracks can cause long‑lasting damage, making them unsafe or impassable for others and potentially affecting access for the remainder of the firewood collection season. Avoiding travel in these conditions also reduces the risk of becoming bogged and prevents unnecessary environmental impact.

Your cooperation and consideration help ensure tracks remain accessible for everyone throughout the season.

For further information, please contact Forest Fire Management Victoria on 136 186.

Class of person restrictions apply, firewood collectors may be asked to prove their address when collecting firewood.