Recognizing the increasing fire danger in Oregon forests, several counties with private and state forestlands under ODF fire protection have, or within the next couple days will, increase public use restrictions through the Regulated Use Closure process.
Clackamas, Marion, Linn, eastern Lane and Douglas Counties all entered Regulated Use Closure fire safety restrictions on Saturday due to increase fire danger; The ODF Western Lane District will begin similar restrictions on Wednesday morning, August 8.
The ODF West Oregon District, providing fire protection in rural Polk, Lincoln and Benton Counties begins Regulated Use Closure on Wednesday also; the NW Oregon fire protection district – which covers much of the NW region of the state including the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests – begins Regulated Use on August 8 as well.
Regulated Use Closure safety restrictions vary from district to district, but precautions generally include restrictions on smoking outside of enclosed vehicles, prohibition of open fires and setting limits on when power driven equipment – including chainsaws – may be used in forested areas.
Complete information about Regulated Use Closure restrictions is available on the ODF web site:
www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/fire/precautionlevel.aspx
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs