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Posted by Sherman in Idaho [72.47.153.24] on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 21:07:16 :
In Reply to: Re: OT: Fires to the left of us, fires to the right of us. posted by Dave in Oregon [100.42.161.78] on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 15:20:57 :
There's basically no market for bug-killed lodgepole pine. The Canadians are dealing with huge amounts of it too. It's too pitchy for pulp and too small for saw logs. Plus, right after the bugs kill the trees the blue stain fungus gets in and ruins whatever value is left. There's a niche market for bug-killed blue stain "knotty pine" paneling, but it's a very small market.
The one thing I think the Forest Service should do is simply allow anyone who wants to to go up and take any beetle-infested or beetle-killed pine they want with no hassles or permits required. People who live close enough will take it for firewood at least, some will get some usable building poles, and the more enterprising can use some to make rustic pine pole furniture. It's all going to burn or rot anyway, so it's not like it would hurt anything to let people take some of it and at least reduce the fires hazard close to town, which is where people will cut it first.