With
cooler weather forecasted, fire officials with the Douglas Forest Protective
Association are reminding the public that the fire danger is still high
throughout Douglas County.
“The
prolonged drought conditions throughout the area, along with the above normal
temperatures for much of the summer have made our forests very dry” says DFPA
Fire Prevention Specialist Kyle Reed. “Even with the cooler weather that
we are expecting, wildfires can easily start and spread quickly.”
prolonged drought conditions throughout the area, along with the above normal
temperatures for much of the summer have made our forests very dry” says DFPA
Fire Prevention Specialist Kyle Reed. “Even with the cooler weather that
we are expecting, wildfires can easily start and spread quickly.”
Reed reminds that DFPA’s
Regulated Use Closure remains in effect for the general public. The
Regulated Use Closure restricts or prohibits certain high fire risk activities
on all private, county, state, and BLM land protected by DFPA.
Restrictions include:
Regulated Use Closure remains in effect for the general public. The
Regulated Use Closure restricts or prohibits certain high fire risk activities
on all private, county, state, and BLM land protected by DFPA.
Restrictions include:
- Open
fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires are
prohibited except at designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves
using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed. - Chain
saw use is prohibited, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. in areas
subject to Industrial Fire Precaution Level I and II. Non-industrial
chainsaw use is prohibited during IFPL III or IV. When chainsaws are
being used, an 8-oz. fire extinguisher and shovel must be on site and a fire
watch is required when the chainsaw use is done. - The
use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, is
prohibited, except on improved roads. - A
shovel AND one gallon of water or one operational 2½ lb. or larger fire
extinguisher is required in each vehicle when traveling in wildland
areas. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one
operational 2½ lb. or larger fire extinguisher. - The
use of fireworks, tracer ammunition, exploding targets, and sky lanterns are
prohibited. - The
cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited. - The
mowing of dried and cured grass with power driven equipment is prohibited,
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. - 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.
Due to the fire
danger, many large landowners in Douglas County have imposed additional fire
restrictions or closures on their lands. These restrictions and closures
are in addition to DFPA’s Regulated Use Closure. Reed suggests that
residents check with the landowner for the location they plan to recreate on,
before they head to the woods.
danger, many large landowners in Douglas County have imposed additional fire
restrictions or closures on their lands. These restrictions and closures
are in addition to DFPA’s Regulated Use Closure. Reed suggests that
residents check with the landowner for the location they plan to recreate on,
before they head to the woods.
DFPA
has suppressed 92 fires this year which have burned about 31 acres. 63 of
those fires have been human caused.
has suppressed 92 fires this year which have burned about 31 acres. 63 of
those fires have been human caused.
###
Kyle Reed
Fire Prevention
Specialist
Specialist
Douglas Forest
Protective Association
Protective Association
Office: (541)
672-6507 ext. 136
672-6507 ext. 136
Cell: (541)
580-2789
580-2789