To make or receive donations from the firewood program, contact mvjackson@doc1.wa.gov and rabaker@DOC1.WA.GOV.

Article text and photos by Joslyn Rose Trivett, SPP Network Manager

I have known about Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC)’s firewood program for years, but had no idea of the scale. I have never seen so much firewood.

On public lands such as parks and state forests, AHCC’s community crews remove trees which fell during storms, and cut trees which are crowding others or posing a hazard. Logs come back to the minimum security yard for splitting, stacking and curing. The prison partners with SNAP (Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners) to provide people of low income with no-cost firewood, to heat their homes. The winter of 2015-16, AHCC’s firewood program donated more than 660 cords of wood to Spokane County residents!

half-the-firewood — This photo shows about *half* the firewood currently stacked at the Corrections Center.

chipper-meeting — A spontaneous meeting forms around the chipper: DOC staff, visiting compost experts, and a technician discuss the finer points of chipping waste wood. (The chips get turned into compost for the gardens, of course.)

firewood-2 — Dang, those are good looking stacks!

firewood-splitter — A technician paused in his work with the splitter so I could take his photograph.

firewood-maul — The crew manually splits and stacks firewood, building their communities’ resources.

11 Comments:

robert August 17, 2017 at 9:52 am

I am low income, and I live in Spokane Valley.
I burn firewood, but my saw is 50 years old, and I am getting too old to get wood.
How do I get firewood from this program ?

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trivettj October 4, 2018 at 8:36 am

Hi Robert,

I missed your message when it came, but I see it now. In case you still have the need, I will also share your contact info with the prison contact.
~Joslyn
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Vicky October 4, 2018 at 4:50 am

I am a single mother looking for any help with firewood. My main source of heat in winter. Any suggestions would ve greatly appreciated due to the change in weather. Thankyou

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trivettj October 4, 2018 at 8:32 am

Hi Vicky, I will share your request with the program contact at the prison. I hope that he is able to help as I think that he can!
~Joslyn

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Patricia Mcmurtrey October 15, 2018 at 1:20 am

202

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Kym Hyde November 15, 2018 at 11:56 am

I am 59 years old, I live in Spokane Valley and would really like to get firewood for the winter. However, I live on 3rd floor of an apartment complex. Is it possible at all for me to get firewood and how much would this cost? Thank You, Kym Hyde

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Kate Clementich December 7, 2019 at 7:45 am

Hello,
Hey was looking to try and obtain some firewood to heat my house. I have a family of 6, and our electric bill is atrocious. We don’t have much money to spare, so we are looking for anything to help

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