September 15, 2022
PRINEVILLE, Ore. — Recent cool weather across Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is not an indication that fire season is over. These cooler temperatures and improved humidity recovery will moderate fire behavior, but significant rain is needed to lessen wildfire risk and lift prevention restrictions or end fire season.
The risk of rapid fire spread in all fuel types remains despite the transition to seasonable fall weather. Hot, dry conditions this summer fully cured dead and down fuels, and live vegetation had limited moisture, resulting in critical wildland fire potential.
“We are continuing to see new fires pop up, and we are still seeing larger fires burn aggressively”, explains Ben Duda, Prineville Unit Forester. “With all the fires on the landscape across Oregon we need to do what we can to let firefighting resources focus on those fires.”
Regulated-Use Closure and Fire Season are still in effect across the Central Oregon District. These restrictions are intended to reduce wildfire ignitions from high-risk activities. The Regulated-Use Closure prohibits mowing of dried grass and chainsaw use between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. as well as limiting motor vehicles and all-terrain vehicles to improved roads. Campfires are prohibited when Regulated-Use Closure is in effect.
Activities prohibited during fire season include smoking in forest operation areas, blasting without a permit, use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition. Backyard debris burning, including burn barrels is prohibited. In addition to these restrictions forest operations are required to follow prevention guidelines which are available at www.oregon.gov/odf. These guidelines are intended to reduce the risk of fire ignition, quickly detect fires, and allow for a swift suppression response.
Counties and local fire departments may have additional restrictions in place. Check restrictions in your local area to help prevent wildfires.
Failure to follow Fire Season and Regulated-Use Closure restrictions can result in citations, fines, and liability for costs associated with putting the fire out. Wildfires impact public health, water quality, soil productivity, landowners, and local communities and businesses.
For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including Regulated-Use Closure restrictions and contact information, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
September 14, 2022
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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September 8, 2022
SALEM, Ore. — With hot, dry and windy conditions in the forecast, forestland in northwest Oregon protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry will be in Extreme Fire Danger as of 1 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, with additional public restrictions on campfires and open flame, off-highway vehicle use, mowing dry grass, and other activities.
With this change, all ODF-protected lands will be in extreme fire danger. Fire danger and associated restrictions for all lands protected by ODF can be found on the ODF website at tiny.cc/odffirerestrictions.
Starting Friday in northwest Oregon, off-highway vehicle trails will be closed, campfires completely banned, and some forest roads will close to vehicle traffic. For northwest Oregon, this includes all ODF-protected lands in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, Washington, Clackamas, Marion, Polk, Linn, Lincoln & Benton counties, including the Tillamook, Clatsop and Santiam state forests.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for northwest Oregon and southwest Washington starting 11 a.m. Friday through 11 p.m. Saturday, indicating critical fire conditions. The NWS is predicting a moderate-to-strong east wind event starting Friday and continuing through at least Saturday night. Historically, east winds and dry conditions in late summer have resulted in some of northwest Oregon’s largest wildfires, including the 2020 Labor Day fires.
Precautions such as these can prevent most wildfires:
- Check current fire restrictions for the area before visiting: Under extreme fire danger in northwest Oregon, campfires are banned and off-highway vehicle trails are closed.
- Check your vehicle for dragging tow chains that can send sparks into roadside vegetation.
- Don’t park or idle on dry grass or brush – the hot exhaust system can set it smoldering in seconds.
- Smoke only in an enclosed vehicle. Properly dispose of cigarette butts.
- If you see smoke, call 911.
- Always have fire extinguishing tools on hand.
