LA GRANDE, Ore. — There have been some inquiries on our current status of fire restrictions for ODF-protected lands. We are lowering our restrictions from extreme fire danger to high fire danger, effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, September 15th. Weather conditions have moderated but our forest fuels remain critically dry. Our fire managers would like to remind everyone that lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry-Northeast Oregon District are still under Public Use Restrictions, and during this time we will not be issuing permits for open burning, debris piles, or burn barrels.
Here is a reminder of the restrictions that will be in place for high fire danger:
PROHIBITED:
- All open debris burning and the use of burn barrels.
- Open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires, and warming fires, except at designated locations.
- Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
- Propane fire pits are allowed if they are self-contained and 3 feet away from any flammable fuels with a maximum flame height of 2 feet.
- Non-industrial Chainsaw use is prohibited Noon-8 PM.
- Non-industrial chainsaw use is allowed at all other hours if the following firefighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one shovel or other firefighting tools, and one 8-ounce or larger fire extinguisher or 1-gallon of water. In addition, a fire watch is required at least one hour following the end of chainsaw use.
- Electric Chainsaws are allowed all day.
- Use of fireworks.
- Use of exploding targets.
- Use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base.
- Any electric fence controller in use shall be: 1) Listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services; and 2) Operated in compliance with manufacturer’s instructions.
- Smoking while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, or a cleared area free of flammable vegetation.
- Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required for any vehicle/UTV/ATV traveling on unimproved roadways, where flammable vegetation exists on roadway; shovel or other firefighting tools, minimum of 1 gallon of water, or 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
- Mowing of dried and cured grass with power-driven equipment is prohibited from Noon-8 PM, except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
- Electric string trimmers are allowed all day.
- Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is prohibited Noon-8 PM. Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is permitted at all other hours if conducted in a 10-foot area cleared of flammable vegetation, shovel, or other firefighting tools, minimum of 1 gallon of water, or 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
Use of sky lanterns throughout the year in Oregon.
Fire restrictions are in place to help prevent human-caused wildfires. Please be sure to know the restrictions in the area, as they may differ on lands protected by other agencies. You can find up-to-date information for fire restrictions on all area forests by visiting www.bmidc.org or contacting the Oregon Department of Forestry-Northeast Oregon Fire Prevention Information Line for more information on ODF’s Public Use Restrictions: (541) 975-3027.
To report a fire, call Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch at (541) 963-7171 or dial 9-1-1.
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