September 29, 2016
The 10-acre Reservoir Fire was reported burning early Thursday afternoon west of Lakeview at Lower Cottonwood Reservoir in the Lake Unit of the Klamath-Lake District. Resources at the fire include: two air tankers, one helicopter, six fire engines, two bulldozers, two hand crews and a water tender. Firefighters have completed dozer line around the perimeter. High winds are expected this evening. Cause is under investigation.
September 29, 2016
The Oregon Department of Forestry announced today that the current Regulated-Use Closure in the Northwest Oregon Forest Protection District will be lifted Friday, Sept. 30.
This area includes all state, private and federal Bureau of Land Management forest lands in the Tillamook, Forest Grove and Astoria districts of ODF.
When Regulated Use is officially terminated, the public no longer must observe fire restrictions on smoking, campfires, chainsaws and motorized vehicles. However, everyone still needs to think about fire prevention all year-round. For example, do not discard burning materials, such as cigarettes, and always ensure campfires are cold before leaving.
Fire Season is still in effect
Meanwhile, forest operators must have required fire equipment at the sites of their operation, and are reminded to inspect their fire equipment to ensure it is ready and can pass inspection. Forest operators must also provide fire watch on each operation after equipment is shut down at the end of operations each day. Operators can refer to the Fire Watch Waiver in effect for IFPL fire watch requirements. Fire season rules also prohibit smoking while in or traveling through any “operation area,” and prohibit the use of fuse and caps for blasting on forest land. Zones NW-1, NW-2, and NW-3 IFPL levels and changes may be obtained by calling your local ODF office or online, http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx.
For the general public, burning permits are required for open pile burning and burn barrels. Residents who live within a city fire department district or rural fire protection district will need to contact their local fire officials for burning and burn permit requirements.
Fire can be a hazard at any time of year if steps are not taken to use it safely. Whenever you use fire, whether for debris burning or enjoying a campfire, follow these steps to prevent your fire from turning into the next wildfire.
- Never leave your fire unattended.
- When burning debris, always have a hose and shovel at the fire to prevent the fire from spreading.
- Check with your local fire protection agency prior to burning. (Most Rural Fire Protection Districts require a burn permit year round.)
- If camping, ensure your campfire is in a designated area.
- Always make sure your campfire is out cold before leaving.
- On the beach, keep your campfire far from beach grass and drift wood piles.
Once the proclamation is processed early Friday morning, you can find it and other restrictions and closures information on the ODF website, at the link above.
September 27, 2016
The eight-acre Short Lake Fire was reported burning in the Klamath Unit of the Klamath-Lake District Monday afternoon. Air tankers, a helicopter, a bulldozer, three fire engines and a water tender were assigned to the blaze burning in grass, sagebrush and juniper fuels. Crews fought the fire through the night and it is currently in mop-up. Oregon Dept. of Forestry and Bureau of Land Management are partnering on the suppression effort. Cause is under investigation.
September 26, 2016
Contact: Kyle
Reed
541-672-6507 x 136, kyle.reed@oregon.gov
Smoke will soon be seen
throughout Douglas County as the Douglas Forest Protective Association works
with farmers, ranchers and other landowners to complete prescribed burns
throughout the Umpqua Valley. Prescribed burns may be conducted on
fields, pastures and hillsides to promote productive grazing lands for
livestock and to improve habitat for wildlife. The main objective of the
prescribed burns is to remove noxious weeds, brush, insects and plant disease
from the proposed burn sites. Permits for backyard debris burning,
including both debris piles and burn barrels, will not be issued at this time.
Historically, DFPA and local
landowner’s have completed about 10,000 acres of prescribed burns annually
throughout Douglas County to improve habitat and pasture lands. Prescribed burns are also beneficial to firefighters by reducing the buildup of
brush and other flammable vegetation throughout the area. Fire officials
note that many wildfires have been suppressed in open grass fields and
hillsides where prescribed burning has taken place periodically over the years.
Prescribed
burns are made safe by the construction of fire trails around the proposed burn
site before fire is introduced onto the landscape. In addition,
landowners must be able to show that they have the ability and resources in the
form of fire suppression equipment and personnel on site to maintain control of
the prescribed burn. Once fire trails are approved by DFPA and weather
conditions are favorable, a permit may be issued to complete the prescribed
burn.
Fire officials say that the
effects from the prescribed burns on populated areas will be minimized by
allowing the burns to take place only when both fire conditions and weather
patterns are favorable to keep smoke out of large populated areas.
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September 22, 2016
September 22, 2016
Contact: Jamie Knight, 541-786-2039
On September 23, the Oregon Department of Forestry will terminate the Regulated-Use Closure for forestlands protected by the Northeast Oregon District. Due to the change in weather, the closure and the associated fire prevention restrictions are no longer necessary. Campfires are now allowed with landowner permission.
Joseph Goebel, Wallowa Wildland Fire Supervisor, cautions, “While we are trending towards cooler fall weather, the conditions can change rapidly. Parts of the region have gotten some moisture and while that has helped, there is still a danger of fire spreading. Make sure you’re cautious with campfires and debris burning and ensure they are dead out before leaving them unattended.”
While fire restrictions have eased, Fire Season remains in effect for private, state, county, municipal and tribal lands protected by ODF. Burn permits are required for all open fires (except campfires), debris burns and burn barrels. ODF will still need to issue a burn permit for any open burns or burn barrels within the protection district until weather conditions warrant an end to fire season.
The Northeast Oregon District includes lands in the following counties: Union, Baker, Umatilla, Wallowa and small portions of Grant, Morrow and Malheur counties.
To obtain a burn permit from ODF, call the local ODF office:
- La Grande Unit 541-963-3168
- Baker City Sub-Unit 541-523-5831
- Wallowa Unit 541-886-2881
- Pendleton Unit 541-276-3491
Fire restrictions may differ on lands protected by rural fire departments or lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. Check local regulations before burning. More information on fire restrictions can be found on the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center website, www.bmidc.org.
To report a fire, call the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center at 541-963-7171, or dial 9-1-1.
http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/ is the spot for current fire information in the Blue Mountains.
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