State Forester calls on Oregonians to prevent all human-caused fires

August 15, 2015

Oregon Department of
Forestry

August 15, 2015

Media Contact: Paul
Ries, 503-508-0990

State Forester calls
on Oregonians to prevent all human-caused fires

“Wildfire activity in Oregon has escalated significantly
since Friday, particularly in eastern Oregon,” said Doug Decker, Oregon State
Forester. “If you couple these major fires with increasing shortages of
firefighting resources and add in the extreme fire danger and conditions
statewide, you can see just how critical it is to prevent the next fire.”

“I’m asking every Oregonian and visitor to help us eliminate
the risk of any new human-caused fire through the rest of fire season,” said
Decker. “Now is the time for vigilance and fire awareness.”

Fire regulations are in effect across Oregon’s wildlands, pertaining
directly to anyone living, recreating or working there. The Department of
Forestry uses its citation authority to enforce fire restrictions on lands in
its jurisdiction, and investigates every fire. Liability for fire costs goes to
responsible parties.

Multiple fast-moving fires have ignited in eastern Oregon in
the past 48 hours. The 13,742-acre
El Dorado Fire, the 34,000
acre
Canyon Creek Complex,
the 23,000-acre
Windy Ridge
and the 26,000-acre
Cornet
fires are burning forest resources, threatening homes and transportation
corridors, and prompting evacuations and closures. On Friday, Governor Brown
invoked the Conflagration Act to mobilize structural firefighting resources for
the Canyon Creek Complex of fires near John Day. Additional structural task
forces have been mobilized elsewhere in the state.

Important wildfire prevention resources:

 

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