June 17, 2015
Contact:
George Ponte, 541-460-3025 (cell)
George Ponte, 541-460-3025 (cell)
Increasing wildfire danger has prompted the Oregon
Department of Forestry to tighten public fire prevention restrictions in its
Central Oregon District. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 19, these
restrictions will be in force on private and non-federal public forestlands in 12 counties including Harney, Morrow, Grant, Wheeler,
Gilliam, Hood River, Wasco, Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson, along with
small portions of Umatilla and Lake counties.
Department of Forestry to tighten public fire prevention restrictions in its
Central Oregon District. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 19, these
restrictions will be in force on private and non-federal public forestlands in 12 counties including Harney, Morrow, Grant, Wheeler,
Gilliam, Hood River, Wasco, Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson, along with
small portions of Umatilla and Lake counties.
District Forester George Ponte
said very dry vegetation due to the ongoing drought and warm weather is
resulting in quickly rising fire danger levels.
said very dry vegetation due to the ongoing drought and warm weather is
resulting in quickly rising fire danger levels.
“We are at a point where new
wildfires are growing quickly and becoming more difficult and expensive to
control,” he said. “These restrictions are intended to eliminate human-caused
fires as we will soon be busy enough with lightning-caused fires.”
wildfires are growing quickly and becoming more difficult and expensive to
control,” he said. “These restrictions are intended to eliminate human-caused
fires as we will soon be busy enough with lightning-caused fires.”
The following activities are
restricted or prohibited:
restricted or prohibited:
- Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in
vehicles on improved roads.
- Open fires are prohibited, including campfires,
charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in designated
areas. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are
allowed. Open fires are allowed if conducted in compliance with a valid
Burning Permit issued pursuant to ORS 477.515.
- Chainsaw use is prohibited between the hours of 1 p.m.
and 8 p.m. Chainsaw use is permitted at all other hours, if the following
firefighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one ax, one
shovel, and one 8-ounce or larger fire extinguisher. In addition, a fire
watch is required for at least one hour following the use of each saw.
- Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited
between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. At all other times the
area is to be cleared of flammable vegetation and the following fire
equipment is required: one ax, one shovel, and one 2-½ pound or larger
fire extinguisher in good working order.
- Use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and
all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads and except
for vehicle use by a landowner and employees of the landowner on their own
land while conducting activities associated with their livelihood.
- Possession of the following firefighting equipment is
required while traveling in a motorized vehicle, except on federal and
state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of
water or one 2-½ pound or larger fire extinguisher, except all-terrain
vehicles and motorcycles, which must be equipped with an approved spark
arrestor in good working condition.
- Mowing of dried grass with power-driven equipment is
prohibited between the hours of 10a.m. and 8 p.m., except for the
commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
- Use of fireworks is prohibited.
- Blasting is prohibited.
· Any electric fence controller in use shall be:
1) listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or certified by the
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services; and 2) operated in
compliance with manufacturer’s instructions.
1) listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or certified by the
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services; and 2) operated in
compliance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Reminder: The following activities are banned anytime during wildfire season, including during the current period of tightened public-use restrictions:
- The release of sky lanterns is prohibited.
- The discharging of exploding targets or tracer ammunition is prohibited.
“Landowners and forest operators, and the general public
need to be extremely cautious,” Ponte said. “Under the right conditions a
spark, campfire or carelessly tossed cigarette could result in a large,
destructive and costly wildfire that puts firefighters and the public at risk.
People should also know that all new fires starts are thoroughly investigated
to determine the cause of the fire. If investigators determine who is
responsible, that person or persons could be held liable for the firefighting
costs which can be in the millions of dollars.”
need to be extremely cautious,” Ponte said. “Under the right conditions a
spark, campfire or carelessly tossed cigarette could result in a large,
destructive and costly wildfire that puts firefighters and the public at risk.
People should also know that all new fires starts are thoroughly investigated
to determine the cause of the fire. If investigators determine who is
responsible, that person or persons could be held liable for the firefighting
costs which can be in the millions of dollars.”