Contact: Brian Ballou, (541) 665-0662 or (541) 621-4156
Fire season begins Friday, June 3, at 12:01 a.m. on lands
protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District.
Lands affected by this declaration include state, private, county, city, and
Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District.
Lands affected by this declaration include state, private, county, city, and
Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
The public regulated use fire danger level will be
“moderate” (blue) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will be 1 (one).
“moderate” (blue) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will be 1 (one).
Last year, fire season started on June 5 and ended October
28. A total of 255 fires burned on lands protected by the Southwest Oregon
District, and blackened 347 acres. More than 200 of those fires were started by
people and 53 fires by lightning. According to the 10-year average of fires on
the district, 230 fires may burn more than 5,600 acres during fire season.
28. A total of 255 fires burned on lands protected by the Southwest Oregon
District, and blackened 347 acres. More than 200 of those fires were started by
people and 53 fires by lightning. According to the 10-year average of fires on
the district, 230 fires may burn more than 5,600 acres during fire season.
The 2016 fire season may be another very active one. A good
snowpack in the Cascade Range and the Siskiyou Mountains recharged most of the
southwest Oregon region’s reservoirs, but may have little positive effect on
wildfire activity in the district, most of which covers low-elevation grass and
brush lands and mid-elevation forests. Residual snowpack is at higher
elevations on national forest and national park lands.
snowpack in the Cascade Range and the Siskiyou Mountains recharged most of the
southwest Oregon region’s reservoirs, but may have little positive effect on
wildfire activity in the district, most of which covers low-elevation grass and
brush lands and mid-elevation forests. Residual snowpack is at higher
elevations on national forest and national park lands.
While spring was reasonably wet, it was also 6-8 degrees
warmer than normal. Abundant grass and weed growth across the district will
provide plenty of fuel for wildfires, once the vegetation fully cures. In
addition, tree mortality from the drought has left numerous dead and dying
trees scattered across the landscape. These may moderately increase the severity
of forest fires in some parts of the district.
warmer than normal. Abundant grass and weed growth across the district will
provide plenty of fuel for wildfires, once the vegetation fully cures. In
addition, tree mortality from the drought has left numerous dead and dying
trees scattered across the landscape. These may moderately increase the severity
of forest fires in some parts of the district.
Beginning Friday, the burning of debris piles and the use of
burn barrels for burning debris will no longer be allowed. Other public
regulated use restrictions on ODF-protected forestlands include:
burn barrels for burning debris will no longer be allowed. Other public
regulated use restrictions on ODF-protected forestlands include:
·
No fireworks;
No fireworks;
·
No tracer ammunition or exploding targets;
No tracer ammunition or exploding targets;
·
No sky lanterns.
No sky lanterns.
Under Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1 on ODF-protected
lands, commercial operations, such as timber harvesting conducted on
forestlands, will be required to have fire suppression equipment on the job
site at all times. A watchman must also be provided.
lands, commercial operations, such as timber harvesting conducted on
forestlands, will be required to have fire suppression equipment on the job
site at all times. A watchman must also be provided.
For more information about the Oregon Department of
Forestry’s fire season regulations, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon
District unit office nearest to you:
Forestry’s fire season regulations, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon
District unit office nearest to you:
·
Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central
Point. (541) 664-3328
Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central
Point. (541) 664-3328
·
Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants
Pass. (541) 474-3152
Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants
Pass. (541) 474-3152
###