September 25, 2012
Fire danger remains high in central Oregon. The message to hunters and recreationists is to call ahead to the area you are visiting and find out the current fire use restrictions, which can change quickly and vary from place to place. Fire season remains in effect on all Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands.
In an effort to prevent human-caused fires during hunting season, wildland fire officials will host Hunter Information Booths across Central Oregon Wednesday, Sept. 26 to Friday, Sept. 28. (See below for location and times). Current fire restriction information will be provided to the public regarding open fires, off-road driving, chainsaw use, smoking in the forest, and more. Maps will be available for sale and road closure information will also be available. Coffee will also be available at most locations.
Hunter Booth Locations:
Prineville – at Ray’s on the East side of Prineville off Highway 26
Wednesday 9/26/12 5:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday 9/27/12 5:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9/28/12 5:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sisters- at Ray’s West end of Sisters on Highway 20
Thursday 9/27/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Friday 9/28/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m.
La Pine – at Ray’s located on Hwy 97 South in La Pine
Thursday 9/27/12 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday 9/28/12 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Walker Range/Crescent — Highway 58 at mile post 71
Thursday 9/27/12 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday 9/28/12 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The Dalles – Memaloose Rest Area on Interstate 84
Thursday 9/27/12 6 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9/28/12 6 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
The Dalles – Dodson Road
Thursday 9/27/12 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9/28/12 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Mt. Vernon on Hwy 26
Wednesday 9/26/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Thursday 9/27/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Friday 9/28/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m.
The hunter booths are brought to you by the Central Oregon Fire Prevention Cooperative, the Klamath County Fire Prevention Cooperative the Mid-Columbia Fire Prevention Cooperative and the Grant-Harney Fire Prevention Co-op.
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September 25, 2012
Even though the calendar says summer has passed, residents of Linn, Benton and Marion counties are reminded that the ban on backyard debris burning that began June 15 remains in effect till further notice.
The annual three-county burn ban continues with the provision “until further notice” due to the current fire danger.
The fire officials noted that the small amount of rain the weekend before last had no enduring effect on wildfire risk.
“The weather patterns need to change to a winter weather model before open outdoor burning can be done safely,” said the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Allison Blair.
Scarcity of firefighting resources also figured into the decision to extend the ban this year. With several large fires burning throughout the West, firefighting resources continue to be stretched thin.
Rural fire agencies and the Oregon Department of Forestry have the authority to enforce and regulate the burn ban. Under Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 477, the department may issue citations for violation of the burning restrictions.
For more information on the open burning restrictions as well as advice on safe debris disposal, contact the nearest Department of Forestry office or the local fire department.
Contacts:
Allison Blair, ODF Philomath Unit
Chad Calderwood, ODF Sweet Home Unit
Chris Paul, ODF Santiam Unit
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September 25, 2012
Fire season remains in effect on all Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands. Closures exist on many federal-managed lands and several large private forest land owners have also closed access to their lands.
The message to hunters and recreationists is to call ahead to the area you are visiting and find out the current fire use restrictions, which can change quickly and vary from place to place.
Fire restriction/fire use information can be found at the following locations:
Private lands in the central Oregon area –
Oregon Department of Forestry:
Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties – Prineville Unit 541-447-5658
Gilliam, Morrow, Hood River, and Wasco counties – The Dalles Unit 541-296-4626
Wheeler, Grant, and Harney counties – John Day Unit 541-575-1139
http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/centraloregon/pages/index.aspx
Public lands in central Oregon –
USDA – Forest Service
Deschutes National Forest 541-383-5300
Ochoco National Forest 541-416-6500
Malheur National Forest 541-575-1321
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fire/
USDI – Bureau of Land Management
Prineville District 541-416-6700
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fire/
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September 25, 2012
The Grave Creek fire in Josephine County 11 miles southwest of Glendale is now 26 acres in size and 70 percent contained. The Oregon Department of Forestry, United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Rogue River Fire District, Douglas Forest Protective Association, Douglas County and Shutter Creek Corrections are among the 60 fire personnel assigned to the fire.
The fire started Sunday evening around 6:30. Four ODF engines were dispatched and worked overnight to insure the fire did not cross Marial- Reuben Road. Though the terrain is extremely steep and difficult to move in, fire crews are making progress in containing the fire, completing line construction on the east and west side (below the Rogue River Trail).
Closures in Effect:
• The Rogue River Trail is closed in the fire area, 1.5-to-2 miles downstream from the Grave Creek boat landing.
• Marial Rd. and Mt. Reuben Rd. are closed in the area nearest the fire.
Brian Ballou, ODF SW Oregon District
September 24, 2012
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released this news release on Friday, September 21 regarding private land closures during the upcoming hunting season.
Jeri Chase, Public Information Officer
Fire Duty Officer Pager #503-370-0403
September 21, 2012
The Oregon Department of Forestry issued this news release yesterday.
For immediate release
Major media distribution
September 20, 2012
Contact:
Kris Babbs, 503-945-7444, kbabbs@odf.state.or.us
Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols@odf.state.or.us
Firefighters will shift roles and set a fire at The Oregon Garden. A prescribed burn to remove excess vegetation will be conducted on Sept. 24 by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), The Oregon Garden and Silverton Fire and Rescue.
“This burn of a 12-acre unit within a grove of white oaks is the second phase of a project begun last year,” said Oregon Department of Forestry’s Chris Paul.
The earlier work reduced overgrown vegetation through manual brush removal, tree pruning and herbicide treatment. The aim of the ongoing project, he said, is to create conditions characteristic of the original oak savanna, a lightly forested grassland dominated by oak trees.
The burn will be ignited around 1 p.m. and is expected to be completed in about two hours. It will be staffed by the agencies’ firefighters to contain it within the boundaries of the unit. ODF meteorologists are monitoring weather and wind conditions to minimize smoke intrusion into Silverton. The prescribed burn will be rescheduled if conditions aren’t optimum on Monday.
He said forest fuels such as Himalayan blackberry, Scotch broom and other non-native and invasive plant species will be removed to encourage the growth of camas and other native plants and grasses.
The burn will be visible from the deck of The Oregon Garden Fire Safety House, a new life-sized exhibit that features fire-safe home construction material and design improvements, fire-resistant landscaping plants, and a self-guided interpretive tour on how to reduce the surrounding fuels that could cause a wildfire to encroach on a home.
“Silverton residents and visitors to The Oregon Garden should expect smoke in the area during ignitions and as the fire smolders down,” he said.
The forester advised residents who are sensitive to smoke or have pre-existing respiratory problems to limit their outdoor activities on the day of the burn, particularly during the afternoon, and to keep windows closed. More information about how to limit exposure to smoke is available at: www.deq.state.or.us/aq/burning/wildfires/visibility.htm.
The prescribed burn will also serve as a training tool for firefighters to work with live fire and hone their skills in wildfire suppression tactics.
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Jeri Chase, ODF Public Information Officer
Fire Duty Officer Pager Number: 503-370-0403
September 18, 2012
The 15-acre Jimmy Creek Fire was reported today burning in Douglas County. The Coos Forest Protective Association is fighting the fire, which is currently uncontrolled and burning in timber along steep rock bluffs. Extended attack is expected. Two helicopters, four fire engines, one bulldozer, one water tender and six hand crews have been assigned to the suppression action.
September 17, 2012
Continuing warm weather and tinder-dry forest conditions prompted the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to increase fire safety restrictions on industrial activity on private and non-federal public forestlands in a portion of northwestern Oregon effective at noon today, Sept. 17. The tightening of rules on work activities also affects recreational off-road vehicle users in portions of the Clatsop and Tillamook State Forests.
The step up from Industrial Fire Precaution Level 2 (IFPL) to Level 3 applies to Zones NW-2 and NW-3. Zone NW-2 encompasses eastern Clatsop County and northern Tillamook County. Zone NW-3 takes in Columbia, Washington and Yamhill counties along with a portion of Tillamook County.
The Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, or IFPLs, regulate work activity in the forest including timber harvest and road construction. IFPL 3, also referred to as “partial shutdown,” includes the following restrictions:
- Cable yarding prohibited – except that gravity-operated logging systems employing non-motorized carriages may operate between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. when all blocks and moving lines are suspended 10 feet above the ground except the line between the carriage and the chokers.
- Power saws prohibited – except power saws may be used at loading sites and on tractor/skidder operations between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.
The following activities are also prohibited except between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.:
- Tractor-skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations where tractors, skidders or other equipment with a blade capable of constructing fire line are immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start.
- Mechanized loading or hauling of any product or material.
- Blasting.
- Welding or cutting of metal.
- Any other spark-emitting operation not specifically mentioned.
A fire watch is required for three hours following shutdown of work for the day.
Maps of the various zones can be viewed on the Oregon Department of Forestry website, www.oregon.gov/odf/Pages/fire/fire.aspx#Forest_Restrictions___Closures
The implementation of IFPL 3 overrides a partial waiver that allows use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles on designated OHV areas within the Clatsop and Tillamook state forests during IFPL Levels 1 and 2.
The following areas are now closed to OHV use: The Rogers Basin, Jordan Creek Basin, Trask Basin, Diamond Mill OHV area, Nicolai Mountain OHV area, and Nestucca Trail areas.
In those areas, recreationists must follow the normal rules under a regulated-use closure. These include:
- Smoking prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and at designated locations. An “improved road” is a road that has been constructed for automobile use and is maintained clear of flammable debris.
- Open fires such as campfires, charcoal fires, and cooking fires allowed only in designated locations. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
- Restrictions or prohibition of non-industrial use of chainsaws. This includes private woodcutting. An ax, shovel, and fire extinguisher of at least 8 oz. capacity must be kept with each saw.
- The use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, may be prohibited, except on improved roads.
- Possessing the following fire equipment while traveling in timber, brush or grass areas may be required: one axe at least 26 inches in length, with a head weighing at least two pounds; one shovel at least 26 inches in length, with a blade at least eight inches wide; and one gallon of water or one fully charged and an operational 2.5-lb. or larger fire extinguisher.
- Prohibition on the use of fireworks.
- Prohibition on the cutting, grinding and welding of metal in dry, grassy or forested areas between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Prohibition on the use of exploding targets.
September 3, 2012
The Slate Creek fire was reported Monday burning in timber and brush about 13 miles west of Grants Pass. Size of the fire Monday afternoon is estimated at 120 acres, burning on BLM lands protected by ODF. Several helicopters and air tankers are dropping water and retardant on the fire, assisting the ground attack provided by 8 ODF engines, 3 crews, one water tender and 3 bulldozers. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
The fire is west of Hwy 199 and north of Hayes Hill. Waters Creek and Slate Creek roads are closed to non-emergency traffic. The Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s Grants Pass Unit is managing the fire, and roadblocks are being staffed by Josephine County Sheriff deputies. Douglas Forest Protective Association and US Forest Service are also assisting with fire resources.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs Salem
Brian Ballou – ODF SW Oregon District
August 30, 2012
Pending weather conditions, there is planned to be a 100-acre prescribed agricultural burn operation at the William L. Finley National Wildlife Reserve about 3 miles south of Corvallis today. The smoke plume is expected to be visible in much of the mid-Willamette Valley on Thursday.
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August 29, 2012
Oregon Incident Management Team 3 – Central Oregon
Fire Information Center: 541-432-0163
Inciweb Website: www.inciweb.org/incident/3202
Cache Creek Fire Community Meetings Scheduled This Week
The Central Oregon Incident Management Team 3 will have two community meetings providing information on the Cache Creek Fire burning in the Hells Canyon National Recreational Area 41 miles northeast of Enterprise, OR. Separate meetings will be held this Thursday and Friday in Imnaha and Joseph. The agendas will focus on current fire information, fire behavior and an opportunity to ask questions related to the Cache Creek Fire. Handouts, including maps, will be offered to those attending.
The Imnaha meeting will be held on Thursday, August 30, at 6 pm at the Imnaha Christian Fellowship Church on Imnaha Highway.
The Joseph meeting will be held on Friday August 31, at 5 pm at the Joseph Community Center.
Information on the Cache Creek Fire can be found at www.inciweb.org/incident/3202 or by contacting the Cache Creek Fire information office at 541-432-0163.
The 68,500 acre fire is burning in both Oregon and Washington, on Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), private, Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands, and Washington Fish and Wildlife state lands. Over 840 personnel are assigned to the incident and with an estimated containment date of September 5, 2012.
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August 29, 2012
Don’t let these cool mornings and shorter days fool you: Forests across a significant portion of the state are in high wildfire danger. For recreationists headed to the woods over the Labor Day Weekend, basic precautions can make your outing a safe and enjoyable one.
Check current restrictions: Public and corporate forest landowners generally try to offer as much recreational access to the forests as possible. For that reason, the restrictions on campfires, off-road driving and riding, and other activities in the woods can change frequently as fire conditions evolve. Be sure to check with the land management agency or landowner before you head out.
Fire safety tips: The common recreational causes of wildfires are easy to prevent:
– Campfires: First, check whether campfires are allowed where you plan to camp. If they are, go to the Keep Oregon Green Association website, www.keeporegongreen.org , for practical tips on building and maintaining a campfire.
– Off-road vehicle use: Dry grass or brush can ignite if it comes into contact with the exhaust system of a four-wheel drive, quad or motorcycle. Stay on established forest roads and trails during this time of high wildfire danger.
– Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in most wildland areas. A cigarette discarded in dry grass, leaves or needles can smolder for hours and eventually flare up into a wildfire.
“The Oregon public has done well this summer exercising fire safety caution in the forest,” said Tom Fields, fire prevention coordinator with the Oregon Department of Forestry. “Let’s all continue that good record through the Labor Day holiday.”
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August 28, 2012
Source – Inciweb
Closure of Lower Imnaha Road/Dug Bar Road (Forest Service Road 4260) north of Imnaha
Due to the Cache Creek Fire moving southward toward the Imnaha River, beginning immediately, the Lower Imnaha Road/Dug Bar Road (Forest Service Road 4260) will be closed. The closure begins at the junction of Fence Creek (six miles north of Imnaha) north to the Dug Bar Landing on the Snake River by the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Department and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
This closure impacts the river landing at Dug Bar. River patrols are posting notices up river at various locations. The closure will be staffed by the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Department.
The closure is needed for public safety. The Cache Creek Fire started August 20, 2012, by lightning in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
Incident Information Phone: 541-432-0163
http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3202
August 28, 2012
In addition to the Red Flag Warnings in effect across south-central Oregon today, the National Weather Service in Boise has issued a Red Flag Warning for Oregon’s Malheur County in effect from 3:00pm Mountain Daylight Time today until Midnight MDT.
Wind gusts of up to 30 mph are predicted with relative humidity as low as 3 percent in some portions of the forecast area. These factors could increase wildfire growth following an ignition.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs
August 28, 2012
The Cache Creek fire continues burning about 41 miles NNE of Enterprise in Wallowa County. Fire has covered 63,300 acres – including 3,200 acres under ODF protection — in extreme terrain with limited accessibility in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and is 40 percent contained.
The fire reflects multiple ownerships, covering portions of Oregon and Washington on a mix of U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, private, and Washington State Fish and Wildlife lands.
ODF resources currently assigned to this fire Tuesday include two engines, and the division assigned to the ODF-protected area of the fire is in mop-up status. The local ODF Northeast Oregon District continues working closely with the interagency incident management team to reduce impacts to the private, ODF-protected forestlands that are involved.
Fire began Monday August 20 due to a lightning strike. An Interagency Incident Management Team (IIMT Oregon Team 3) is working this fire.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs Office
August 28, 2012
Source: South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership
The lightning-caused, 93,071-acre Barry Point Fire, burning 24 miles southwest of Lakeview, is now 100 percent contained. The advance of the fire on ODF-protected private forestlands was stopped August 18 at 11,452 acres.
All evacuations due to the fire have been lifted in Oregon and California. While area residents will continue to see smoke within the fire perimeter as unburned fuels on the interior of the fire burn out, several large fires burning in California are the major contributors to the smoke impacts in the south-central Oregon area.
On the Fremont-Winema National Forest all the National Forest Lands, recreation sites, roads and trails in Yokum Valley, the Fitzwater/Point Ranch area, Dog Mountain, Long Valley, Drews Valley (south of Highway140), Dent creek and Barry Point remain closed for fire management activities.
On the Modoc National Forest the entire area, including all roads, from the Oregon/California border south to the Big Sage Management Area then to the west to the 73 Road and east to Goose Lake are closed. Also, on the Modoc NF the Janes Camp Ground is closed.
More information on this fire is available on Inciweb at: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3105
August 28, 2012
The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Red Flag Warning for Klamath, Lake and Harney Counties extending into California’s Modoc County in effect from 2:00 until 8:00 Tuesday afternoon, predicting strong winds and low relative humidity which could promote wildfire growth.
Wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph are predicted Tuesday along with humidity of 5 to 10 percent in some areas. These two factors could result in significant fire growth. Please prevent forest and rangeland fires and be fire-safe.
A Red Flag Warning is the highest fire forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service to warn of conditions that are ideal for wildland fire ignition and propagation. To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading wildland fire in the area within the next 24 hours.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
August 8, 2012
Continued warm, dry weather has prompted the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to increase fire safety restrictions in the Northwest Oregon Fire Protection District, and to caution recreationists to be careful with fire on and around state, private, and BLM forestlands.
ODF’s Northwest Oregon Fire Protection District – which includes Clatsop County, Columbia County, Tillamook County, western Washington County and the northwest portion of Yamhill County bordered by Hwy 47 and Hwy 18 – implemented Regulated Use Closure safety requirements on Wednesday August 8 at 1:00 a.m.
Effective August 8, in areas of these counties under ODF fire protection:
1. Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles driving on improved roads.
2. Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated locations. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
3. Chainsaw use is prohibited.
4. Use of motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads. Under current conditions, this restriction is waived for designated OHV trails in the Jordan Creek Basin, Rogers Basin, Trask Basin, Diamond Mill OHV Area, Nicolai Mountain OHV area, and in the BLM Nestucca Motorcycle Trail Area.
5. Possession of basic firefighting equipment – one shovel and one gallon of water or a 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher — is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways.
6. Use of fireworks is prohibited.
7. Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.
8. Use of exploding targets is prohibited
The State Forester or an authorized representative may, in writing, approve a modification or waiver of these requirements. For additional information about fire conditions in NW Oregon, you can contact a local ODF office near you—
Forest Grove 503-357-2191
Astoria 503-325-7215
Tillamook 503-842-2545
Columbia City 503-397-2636
Current fire safety restriction information for areas under ODF protection is available on the web at: www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/fire/precautionlevel.aspx
At this time of year, fire conditions and public use regulations are subject to change on short notice. To obtain the most current information prior to going into the woods, contact the nearest Oregon Department of Forestry office. A list of the offices can be found at: www.oregon.gov/odf
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs
August 7, 2012
ODF provided extensive initial attack resources on the Geneva 12 Fire burning south of Lake Billy Chinook. The ODF Sisters Unit deployed six engines to the fire, with 4 fire crews, a bulldozer, a water tender and air support from two helicopters. The fire, briefly known as Incident 392, was reported just after 12:00 Noon Monday burning 15 miles northeast of Sisters. The fire was mapped Monday night at 1,341 acres and is 30 percent contained. The multi-agency response is being dispatched by the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center with incident management provided by the U.S. Forest Service.
Approximately 100 homes were evacuated yesterday afternoon around 4 p.m.; however, the evacuation order was lifted around 10 p.m. when fire behavior calmed down. No structures were damaged or lost within the 3 Rivers subdivision; however, a pickup and a utility trailer were lost within the fire perimeter near Geneva Road. No road closures are in effect this morning although the public is asked to stay out of the area to avoid impacting firefighting traffic. Anyone traveling in the 3 Rivers area this morning should slow down and watch for fire-related traffic.
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs
August 6, 2012
Recognizing the increasing fire danger in Oregon forests, several counties with private and state forestlands under ODF fire protection have, or within the next couple days will, increase public use restrictions through the Regulated Use Closure process.
Clackamas, Marion, Linn, eastern Lane and Douglas Counties all entered Regulated Use Closure fire safety restrictions on Saturday due to increase fire danger; The ODF Western Lane District will begin similar restrictions on Wednesday morning, August 8.
The ODF West Oregon District, providing fire protection in rural Polk, Lincoln and Benton Counties begins Regulated Use Closure on Wednesday also; the NW Oregon fire protection district – which covers much of the NW region of the state including the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests – begins Regulated Use on August 8 as well.
Regulated Use Closure safety restrictions vary from district to district, but precautions generally include restrictions on smoking outside of enclosed vehicles, prohibition of open fires and setting limits on when power driven equipment – including chainsaws – may be used in forested areas.
Complete information about Regulated Use Closure restrictions is available on the ODF web site:
www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/fire/precautionlevel.aspx
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs
