June 17, 2015
Contact:
Mike Cafferata
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
503-359-7430
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will tighten fire prevention
rules starting June 19 in northwestern Oregon, including the Tillamook and
Clatsop State Forests, and private lands in the Northwest Oregon Forest
Protective Association.
rules starting June 19 in northwestern Oregon, including the Tillamook and
Clatsop State Forests, and private lands in the Northwest Oregon Forest
Protective Association.
“In order to keep communities
safe and avoid wildfire risk, we’ll begin restrictions on public use of the
forest on Friday. These restrictions ban fireworks, exploding targets,
campfires outside of designated locations, and other fire-prone activities,”
said Mike Cafferata, ODF District Forester. “These restrictions respond to the extremely
dry conditions we’re experiencing and to the Sunset Grade Fire, which we
believe was started by one of these activities last weekend.”
safe and avoid wildfire risk, we’ll begin restrictions on public use of the
forest on Friday. These restrictions ban fireworks, exploding targets,
campfires outside of designated locations, and other fire-prone activities,”
said Mike Cafferata, ODF District Forester. “These restrictions respond to the extremely
dry conditions we’re experiencing and to the Sunset Grade Fire, which we
believe was started by one of these activities last weekend.”
The following restrictions on activities in the forest will apply
starting June 19:
starting June 19:
-
Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in
closed vehicles on improved roads.
-
Open fires are prohibited, including campfires,
charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated
locations. Use of wood-burning devices, used in conjunction with temporary
dwellings, including tents and trailers, is prohibited. Portable cooking stoves
using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
-
Use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and
all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads and designated
areas.
-
Possession of the following firefighting
equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads
and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one operational 2-½ pound
or larger fire extinguisher.
-
Use of fireworks is prohibited.
-
Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is
prohibited.
In addition, the following items are banned throughout the wildfire season as well as during the current period of tightened safety restrictions: Use of exploding targets, tracer ammunition and sky lanterns is prohibited.
Contact the Tillamook, Astoria or Forest Grove district offices
for more information about the fire prevention rules. Contact information
available at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/pages/offices.aspx
for more information about the fire prevention rules. Contact information
available at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/pages/offices.aspx