Earlier this week, public radio stations in Oregon ran stories about the beginning of fire season in four fire protection districts in southern and central parts of the state.
Reporter Amanda Peacher reported that ODF fire managers are urging campers and others to take extra precautions with fire season now underway in southern and central portions of the state.
District Forester Mike Shaw in ODF’s Central Oregon District was quoted describing how the loss of snow cover in spring elevates fire risk: “As the snowpack melts and recedes to higher elevation, the lower- and mid-elevation ground becomes available to burn.”
Shaw went on to say “When we go into fire season, that is kind of the heads up to the public that yeah, we need to be careful with the activities that we do out in the wild land.”
The Klamath Falls Herald and News also covered the start of fire season in ODF’s Klamath-Lake District. Reporter Stephen Boyd wrote “The declaration of fire season comes as warm and dry conditions are expected to intensify during June. Randall Baley, with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s protection unit, said this will lead to the rapid drying of fuels in the coming weeks, despite much vegetation remaining green at this time.”