Fire Prevention: Klamath-Lake District & Walker Range implement wildland regulated use closure

June 25, 2015

Campfires,
Smoking, Firewood Cutting, Off-road Vehicles Affected

Beginning Friday, June 26, 2015, at 12:01 AM, all
private, county, and state wildlands protected by the Klamath-Lake District,
Oregon Department of Forestry [ODF], including BLM lands west of HWY. 97
as well as those
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands west of the Gerber Reservoir Area in
Klamath County, along with Walker Range Forest Patrol Association will be
placed under a PUBLIC REGULATED USE CLOSURE. 

With the progression of summer conditions
and continued drying of forest fuels, local fire danger levels have reached
HIGH.” 

Fires starting in these conditions have the potential for rapid
fire spread and major damage. The Regulated Use Restrictions being placed in
effect by fire officials will dramatically reduce the chance of an accidental
fire start.
Under the Public Regulated Use Closure:
Smoking in wildland areas is permitted only in enclosed vehicles
on roads.
Camping, cooking or warming fires will be prohibited, except in the
following designated locations:

KLAMATH COUNTY: Topsy Campground (BLM), Surveyor Campground (BLM), Collier
State Park, Kimball State Park, Hagel­stein Park (county) and posted sites in
the Klamath River Canyon.
LAKE COUNTY: Gooselake State Park.
Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are permitted at all
other locations.
Off road driving and motorized vehicles on un-improved roads is
prohibited.

Use of fireworks is prohibited.

“Fireworks”
means any combustible or explosive device or any other article which was
prepared for the purpose of providing a visible or audible effect by
combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, including firecrackers,
fountains, skyrockets, snakes and sparklers.
P   Possession of a
full size axe, shovel and a 2 ½ lb. fire extinguisher or filled gallon water
container is required while traveling in a motorized vehicle, except on state
and county roads.
Debris Burning, which was banned June 5th
in Klamath and Lake Counties when Klamath-Lake District of the Oregon
Department of Forestry and Walker Range Patrol Association declared fire
season, remains in effect.
In addition, the following activities will be prohibited between the
hours of 1:00 to 8:00 PM:
Non-Industrial Chain saw use.
 Cutting, grinding and welding of metal on forested lands.
The above
regulations expand those already in effect in the
Klamath River Canyon since June 5th.  The “Fire Season
in effect” declaration on June 5th put into place regulations
restricting debris burning and timber harvest operations. 
Wildland and
structural fire protection agencies in Klamath County have agreed to prohibit
all outdoor debris burning.  

Forest operations that require a Permit
to operate power driven machinery now are required to have fire tools,
on-site water supply, and watchman service
on privately owned forest
land.   Declaring the “Fire Season” also prohibits the release of
sky lanterns, the discharge of exploding targets or the discharge of tracer
ammunition during this period.
Klamath-Lake
District Web Page:
[http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/pages/field/kl/aboutklamathlake.aspx]
Southwest Oregon District of the Oregon
Department of Forestry protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Contact 541-684-3328 for current SWO information.
Fremont – Winema National Forests and Lakeview District BLM – contact 541-883-6715 or 541-947-2151.

Archives