September 21, 2016
Oregon Department of Forestry
Southwest Oregon District
Contact: Melissa Cano, 541-613-6313 or 541-664-3328
Cooler temperatures and higher humidity across southwestern Oregon have made it possible to ease off some of the fire prevention regulations. However, warm and dry weather is expected to return to the region by the weekend.
The fire danger level on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties will be lowered to “high” (yellow) tomorrow, September 22, 2016, at 12 a.m. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will remain at 2.
These regulations affect 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.
Restrictions on the public use of chainsaws, brush cutters and other power-driven or spark-emitting machinery are being slightly relaxed, allowing the use of equipment until 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Today will be the last day power-driven and/or spark-emitting machinery is completely prohibited.
Other fire prevention regulations that will remain in effect include:
· No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels
· No fireworks use on forestlands
· Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited
· Sky lanterns may not be used in wildland and forestland areas
· Campfires allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations
· Motorized vehicles are allowed only on improved roads
· Chainsaws may be used until 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Chainsaw users must have an ax, a shovel and an 8-oz. or larger fire extinguisher at the job site, and a fire watch is required for one hour after the saw is shut down
· Mowing of dead or dry grass with power-driven equipment is allowed until 10 a.m., and may resume after 8 p.m. This restriction does not apply to mowing green lawns, or to equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops
· The cutting, grinding or welding of metal is allowed until 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. These activities may only take place at a site cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and with a water supply at the job site
· Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not specifically mentioned is permitted during high fire danger before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. as long as it is used in a cleared area and has a charged garden hose or one 2-½ lb. or larger fire extinguisher immediately available
· Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and other designated locations
· Electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation
For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s public regulated use regulations, or Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:
· Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328
· Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152
Fire season information is also available online at www.swofire.com.
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September 21, 2016
September 20, 2016
Media Contact: Tamara
Schmidt
541-947-6243
LAKEVIEW, Ore. – As of this
morning, the fire danger had been reduced from extreme to high, the Industrial
Fire Precaution Level was reduced to 2 on lands under the South
Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership and Public Use Restrictions
were lifted in several areas.
The IFPL affects lands
administered by the Fremont-Winema National Forest, the Bureau of Land
Management Lakeview District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at
Sheldon-Hart Mountain and Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge
Complexes. The Public Use Restrictions
are also lifted on these public lands.
The only Lakeview District BLM lands not included in this
are those within the Klamath Falls Resource Area west of Langell Valley. This area is under the protection of the
Oregon Department of Forestry, which remains under regulated use. For information on specific restrictions in
areas under ODF’s fire protection, please visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx.
Crater Lake National Park remains under Stage 1 Fire
Restrictions, prohibiting campfires in the backcountry and restricting campfires
and smoking to designated areas. For
more information, please visit www.nps.gov/crla
and select “Alerts.”
Personal and commercial woodcutters are allowed to resume
operations in accordance with their permit and current IFPL levels. Woodcutters are reminded of their
responsibility to stay informed of current IFPLs and all restrictions that
apply to activities conducted on public lands. Failure to comply with the fire precautionary requirements may result in
a violation notice.
“While the Public Use Restrictions are lifted and the fire
danger is decreasing, conditions are still dry,” said Interagency Fire Staff
Officer Barry Shullanberger. “As people
go out to enjoy their public lands – whether it’s cutting firewood, hunting,
camping or just enjoying the warm weather – we ask that they be careful with
anything that can throw a spark and to make sure campfires are completely out
and cold to the touch before leaving.”
Visitors should also be aware of their surroundings and
prepared for changing weather conditions as the seasons change. This includes reporting visible smoke that
could be from a wildfire.
For more information on SCOFMP, please visit www.scofmp.org, on Twitter @scofmpfireinfo or
on Facebook at http://facebook.com/scofmpfireinfo.
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September 20, 2016
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Contact: Randall Baley
541-883-5681
Klamath Falls – The Oregon Department of
Forestry has decreased the fire danger level from Extreme to High
in the Klamath-Lake District, effective Sept. 20. However, the district remains in fire season, which means the regulations restricting debris burning and timber
harvest operations remain in effect.
“With the
forecasted weather for the upcoming weekend and week, we will stay in Closed
Fire Season and Public Regulated Use Closure restrictions. The public has done
an awesome job this season being considerate of the landowners that have
allowed the usage of their properties and by following the regulations that
were in effect,” said Randall Baley, Unit Forester.
The best protection measures are always preventative measures. Residents and visitors to Klamath and
Lake Counties have been very responsible in their use of Fire Safe Practices, he said.
“Let’s continue to not let our guard down. Be
sure to follow any restrictions put in place and other general fire prevention
measures to decrease the chance of or the spread of a wildfire.”
September 15, 2016
At approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District responded to a grass fire burning near a home on Highway 227 and Rocky Road in Trail. The Rocky Road Fire was burning at a moderate rate of speed upslope in grass, brush and timber. Within two hours, crews were able to slow down the fire’s spread and get a fire line around 80 percent of the perimeter.
Tonight, the fire size is estimated at 15.2 acres and is 35 percent contained.
There was an initial threat to nearby homes along Rocky Road; however, with the help of the Rogue Valley Wildland Task Force 2 consisting ofIllinois Valley Fire District, Jackson County Fire District 3, Jackson County Fire District #5 IAFF Local 2596, Jackson County Fire District 4, Medford Fire-Rescue and Ashland Fire & Rescue, all structures were protected.
No public or firefighter injuries have been reported.
Crews will continue to work tonight constructing additional hand line, as well as strengthening fire line currently in place. Firefighters will also be monitoring for spot fires throughout the evening and tomorrow morning. Ground crews were able to quickly stop several spot fires this afternoon at 1/10th and 1/100th of an acre. Air attack was integral in stopping the fire’s growth.
All road closures have been lifted, but please be cautious of increased fire traffic along Highway 227.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire management officials ask that the public continue to use caution and adhere to regulations. Current fire restrictions for lands in Jackson and Josephine Counties protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District can be found at www.swofire.com.
September 14, 2016
The Douglas Forest Protective Association is working on a 30-35 acre fire near milepost 6 of Highway 138 west of Sutherlin. Two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) and three helicopters are working the fire from the air to support about 30 firefighters on the ground. DFPA is being assisted by several rural fire departments in the suppression effort. At last report, firefighters were making excellent progress. Structures are in the area but not immediately threatened. Rural fire departments are providing structural protection. The cause of the fire is under investigation. To follow the action, follow along DFPA’s Facebook Page here.
Highway 138 is now closed six miles east of Highway 38 Junction.
