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| Above: Firefighters across Oregon have already been busy battling numerous small fires. Here, firefighters from the Douglas Forest Protective Association work to put out the 1.5-acre Formosa Mine Fire near Riddle. |
The Douglas
Forest Protective Association, Coos Forest Protective Association and ODF’s Klamath-Lake District have announced that their 2018 fire seasons will
begin Friday, June 8. The three join the Walker Range Forest Protective Association and ODF’s Southwest and Central Oregon districts, which declared the start of their fire seasons on June 1.
The declaration of fire season imposes certain fire
restrictions on both the general public and industrial operators to help
prevent wildfires. The restrictions apply to all private, county, state, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands protected against fire by these entities. DFPA protects those lands in Douglas County. The Klamath-Lake District protects much of Klamath and western Lake counties in south-central Oregon. Coos FPA protects Curry, Coos and coastal portions of western Douglas County.
The start of fire season means debris burning is now prohibited. Those wishing to burn yard debris before Friday’s fire season start are encouraged to exercise caution and never leave a burn unattended. Fire officials recommend checking any debris piles that were burned earlier this year to make sure they are completely out. If not thoroughly extinguished, burn piles have the potential to smolder for weeks or even months, popping back to life on warm, windy days.
The use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition is also prohibited during fire season. Sky lanterns are prohibited year-round throughout Oregon.
Fire season also means the start of industrial fire regulations. On Friday, the entire Douglas and Coos FPAs will go into Industrial Fire Precaution Level I (one.) During IFPL I, smoking is prohibited while working on, or traveling through, an industrial operation. In addition, specified fire tools and suppression equipment must be on site and ready for use at all operations. A fire watch service is also required when work ends for the day.
In Klamath-Lake District, regulated use is in effect for lands protected by the district which are within half a mile of the Klamath River from the Keno Dam to the Oregon/California border.
As fire season progresses, additional public and industrial fire restrictions may be imposed as fire conditions become more severe.
For more information:
On lands protected by Douglas FPA:
– call their Closure Information Line at 541-672-0379 or visit www.dfpa.net
On lands protected by the Klamath-Lake District:
– for Klamath County call 541-883-5681
– for Lake County call 541-947-3311
On lands protected by Coos FPA:
– call Coos Closure Information Line at 541-267-1789 or visit www.coosfpa.net
An interactive map with statewide fire restrictions can be viewed online at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html