June 21, 2018
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Above: ODF responded overnight
to a fire high above I-84 near Mitchell Point
in the Columbia River Gorge. |
ODF’s Central Oregon District is responding to a fire that started overnight on state
parkland in the Columbia River Gorge near Mitchell Point in Hood River County. The fire is estimated at less than one
acre and is burning on steep terrain not far from the footprint of last year’s Eagle Creek Fire. Spread of the fire has been stopped. Two ODF engines are on scene along with 2 fire engines
from the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and an engine each from the
City of Hood River Fire Department and the Westside Fire Department. Cause of the fire is not yet known.
The Oregon
Department of Transportation has temporarily closed the right eastbound lane of
Interstate 84 in that area. Please
use caution.
June 19, 2018
SALEM, Ore. — Gov. Kate Brown announced on June 18 a drought
emergency for Baker and Douglas counties due to low snowpack and precipitation,
low streamflows and warming temperatures. The declaration comes in the last week of spring as Oregon braces for summer wildfires.
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Above: Spring flowers belie the fact that drought has
officially been declared in Klamath County
along with four others in eastern Oregon and
Douglas County in southern Oregon. |
Drought conditions have been intensifying in eastern Oregon, with drought emergencies already declared in Grant, Harney, Klamath and Lake counties. Douglas
County is the first county west of the Cascades to receive a drought
declaration.
“All signs point to another record-breaking drought and wildfire season for
Oregon,” Gov. Brown said. “That means we must continue our urgent work
to build communities that are ready for the challenges of climate change. I
have directed state agencies stand ready to help and work with local
communities to provide assistance.”
Forecasted water conditions are not expected to
improve, and drought is likely to have significant impacts on agriculture,
livestock, natural resources, and the local economies. Baker and Douglas
County officials requested the state to take action, and the Oregon Drought
Council considered the counties’ requests by weighing current water conditions,
future climatic forecasts, and agricultural impacts.
The Governor’s drought declaration allows increased flexibility in how water is
managed to ensure that limited supplies are used as efficiently as possible.
Oregon’s state agencies will continue to work with local governments and other
partners to coordinate efforts and mobilize actions to address drought-related
issues. The Governor’s drought declaration authorizes state agencies to
expedite water management tools to which users would not otherwise have access.
As state and local officials coordinate with federal partners, conditions will
be closely monitored by the state’s natural resource and public safety
agencies, including the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Oregon Office
of Emergency Management.
June 15, 2018
Currently, six ODF districts and fire protective associations are in fire season:
- Coos Forest Protective Association
- Douglas Forest Protective Association
- Walker Range Forest Protective Association
- Central Oregon District
- Klamath-Lake District
- Southwest Oregon District
For most Lane County residents, today (Friday, June 15) marks the last day for outdoor burning until October, according to the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA). The end of outdoor burning is due to elevated fire danger during the summer months. Outdoor burning is not expected to resume until the end of wildfire season this autumn.
During the closed season, yard debris may be disposed of at one of several local debris collection or recycling centers such as, Lane Forest Products, Rexius Forest By-Products, or Lane County’s transfer stations and dump sites. Composting and chipping are always encouraged and many residents in the urban growth boundaries of Eugene and Springfield also have option to use curbside yard debris pick up.
Residents who burn during the closed season are subject to violations ranging from $50 to $2,500 or more. “The average residential open burning fine runs about $300, depending upon the size of the fire and materials being burned,” said Jo Niehaus, LRAPA Spokesperson. “Illegal burning during the dry summer months also increases the risk of wildfires that can damage property and destroy homes.”
Backyard debris burning – which includes burn piles and burn barrels – is one of the leading causes of human-caused wildfires in Oregon.
Some Lane County residents can expect to see the outdoor burning season reopen in October with a new change. Residents living inside the Eugene Urban Growth Boundary but outside the City Limits of Eugene must be on 2 acres or larger to burn in the fall.
The Lane County Fire Defense Board will decide if the season will open on time on the first of October or delay opening due to high fire risks. People can check on the season’s status by going online at www.lrapa.org or calling the LRAPA daily open burning advisory line, (541) 726-3976. Coastal residents may call (541) 997-1757.
June 6, 2018
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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
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June 5, 2018
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Above: Smoke rises from the Chapman Grange Road No. 1 Fire.
The fire was reported Sunday and is now 100% lined.
The 42-acre fire outside Scappoose highlights how dry conditions
are for this time of year in northwest Oregon.
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SCAPPOOSE, Ore. – Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters have finished control lines around 100% of the Chapman Grange Road No. 1 Fire seven miles northwest of Scappoose. No more growth is expected on the fire, which has been mapped at 42 acres. On Monday morning firefighters burned out 3-4 acres to tie the fire
together.
The fire was reported on Sunday afternoon , June 3 by a Life Flight helicopter taking a patient to Portland. Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District engaged in the initial attack before transferring the fire to ODF. Vernonia Rural Fire District assisted with a water tender. ODF’s Forest Grove Unit also supplied a water tender.
During the fire’s first
24 hours it actively spotted 30 to 50 feet in all directions ahead of
the flames, even on the backing side. It pushed more than 100 feet into the timber across 12-foot wide gravel roads before slowing down and burning in 5 to 6-foot
high green Douglas-fir trees.
“Those young Douglas-firs and the green underbrush burned amazingly well for this
time of year. Multiple duffy stumps in the timber within 50 feet of the
control lines were receptive to embers. Once heated, fire spread to the
surrounding vegetation even at 1 a.m.,” said ODF’s Columbia City Unit Forester Malcolm Hiatt.
According to Hiatt, along streams the fire behaved normally for what fire managers would expect in June, but in all
other fuel types the fire acted like it was the second week of August. Across much of northwest Oregon, rainfall has been only a fraction of normal for May and early June, leading to fuel moisture levels that are at or near historic lows for this date.
Working on the fire today are one Type 6 engine from Astoria and one Type 6 engine from Columbia City along with two water tenders and 4 South Fork crews. ODF also has a log loader on order to help tear apart some landing piles.
Hiatt said firefighters hope to have 50 feet mopped in on all sides by the end
of shift Tuesday. Mop up will continue for the rest of the week with a
reduction in resources starting with Wednesday’s day shift. There have been no injuries or accidents and no structures were threatened by the fire.
