News contact: George Ponte, 541-447-5658,
gponte@odf.state.or.us
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District
announced today that the 2014 wildfire season on state-protected lands will end
Tuesday morning, Oct. 21. All fire season-related rules will be lifted on the
district, which encompasses 2.2
million acres of private and public forest and rangeland in 10 counties.
announced today that the 2014 wildfire season on state-protected lands will end
Tuesday morning, Oct. 21. All fire season-related rules will be lifted on the
district, which encompasses 2.2
million acres of private and public forest and rangeland in 10 counties.
This year to date, 16,582 acres have burned in the district –
nearly double the 10-year average of 8,681 acres.
nearly double the 10-year average of 8,681 acres.
“2014 was a very challenging fire season,” said District
Forester George Ponte.
Forester George Ponte.
The Two Bulls Fire set the stage for high fire activity,
breaking out west of Bend on June 7. Wind spread the
fire rapidly, prompting residential evacuations.
breaking out west of Bend on June 7. Wind spread the
fire rapidly, prompting residential evacuations.
A month later the White River Fire
ignited in The Dalles Unit. Parched forest fuels and rugged terrain challenged
firefighters battling the blaze.
ignited in The Dalles Unit. Parched forest fuels and rugged terrain challenged
firefighters battling the blaze.
Wave after wave of thunderstorms swept
across Washington and Oregon during the hot, dry summer, starting so many fires
that the Pacific Northwest Region emerged as
hotspot of the nation. To the district’s firefighters, it seemed like central
Oregon lay at the epicenter.
across Washington and Oregon during the hot, dry summer, starting so many fires
that the Pacific Northwest Region emerged as
hotspot of the nation. To the district’s firefighters, it seemed like central
Oregon lay at the epicenter.
In late July, dry lightning raked the district, igniting
several fires in the John Day Unit that were eventually dubbed the Haystack
Complex. An ODF fire team took command of the suppression operation and by
early August was able to turn management of the complex back over to local
forces.
several fires in the John Day Unit that were eventually dubbed the Haystack
Complex. An ODF fire team took command of the suppression operation and by
early August was able to turn management of the complex back over to local
forces.
Standard operating procedure would have
called for the team to be promptly demobilized and its members sent back to
their duty stations around the state. But in view of the extreme fire
conditions, fire staff at ODF headquarters in Salem decided to hold the team in
the district. Their decision proved to be pivotal.
called for the team to be promptly demobilized and its members sent back to
their duty stations around the state. But in view of the extreme fire
conditions, fire staff at ODF headquarters in Salem decided to hold the team in
the district. Their decision proved to be pivotal.
On Aug. 5, the Rowena Fire broke out west of
The Dalles. The fast-moving fire soon forced numerous evacuations. The next
day, the team redeployed to the new incident. While a State Fire Marshal’s team
positioned structural fire engines on residential streets, ODF firefighters battled
to keep the flame front away from threatened neighborhoods. Just one home was
lost. Had ODF’s fire team not already been in-district and able to take command
in only a few hours, the outcome could have been very different.
The Dalles. The fast-moving fire soon forced numerous evacuations. The next
day, the team redeployed to the new incident. While a State Fire Marshal’s team
positioned structural fire engines on residential streets, ODF firefighters battled
to keep the flame front away from threatened neighborhoods. Just one home was
lost. Had ODF’s fire team not already been in-district and able to take command
in only a few hours, the outcome could have been very different.
Though fire season ends Tuesday, burn permits
will still be required for any slash disposal or forest health burning. They are
available by contacting ODF. Homeowners wishing to do backyard burning should
check with their local fire department prior to burning.
will still be required for any slash disposal or forest health burning. They are
available by contacting ODF. Homeowners wishing to do backyard burning should
check with their local fire department prior to burning.
The official closure of the season doesn’t eliminate the
need for vigilance. Ponte urged people to continue to be careful with fire when
working or recreating in the forest, and especially when doing backyard
burning.
need for vigilance. Ponte urged people to continue to be careful with fire when
working or recreating in the forest, and especially when doing backyard
burning.
“Escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfires
outside of fire season. People should not burn on windy days and never, ever
leave a burn unattended,” he said. “In central Oregon we can have wildfires
anytime during the year so for this part of the state, fire season never really
ends.”
In 2013, the Central Oregon District entered fire season June 14 and ended Sept. 30.
outside of fire season. People should not burn on windy days and never, ever
leave a burn unattended,” he said. “In central Oregon we can have wildfires
anytime during the year so for this part of the state, fire season never really
ends.”
In 2013, the Central Oregon District entered fire season June 14 and ended Sept. 30.
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