The National Weather Service in Pendleton issued a Fire Weather Watch for central, eastern and north-east Oregon on Friday to alert residents to a high potential for lightning and hot temperatures beginning Sunday July 8 until Tuesday evening July 10.
Abundant lightning from thunderstorms is expected in most areas east of the Cascade Mountains.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs Office
The ODF Western Lane and South Cascade Districts, providing the fire protection services on private, State and BLM forests in Lane County, will enter fire season just after midnight on Tuesday July 10. South Cascade District also provides services in the southern portion of Linn County.
For current information about fire conditions in Oregon’s state and private forestlands, check the ODF web site at:
http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/precautionlevel.shtml
ODF Public Affairs Office
The National Weather Service in Boise issued a Red Flag Warning today for Oregon’s Malheur County, in effect from Noon until 9:00pm Mountain Time on Friday.
The warning for increased fire potential is the result of thunderstorms forecast in the region with wind gusts of up to 40 mph today, creating a potential for fire growth should an ignition occur.
The National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings & Fire Weather Watches to alert fire agencies of the onset, or possible onset, of critical weather and dry conditions that could lead to rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity. During these times extreme caution is urged by all residents, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.
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 vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
During the past week, 6 ODF Districts across the state responded to 14 fires. All fires were stopped before reaching 10 acres, causing damage to a total of about 15 acres of land.
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The ODF Northeast Oregon District will enter fire season just after midnight on Monday, July 9. The order includes private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands in Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties along with small portions of Malheur, Morrow, and Grant counties under ODF District fire protection.
During fire season in northeast Oregon:
• Burning permits are required on all private forest and range lands within the Northeast Forest Protection District for issued by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Contact the local ODF office in La Grande, Baker City, Wallowa, or Pendleton to acquire a burning permit.
• Landowners who conducted burning of slash piles last fall and this past spring are asked to check these piles and ensure that they are completely out and all heat is gone. Sometimes, large burn piles can retain heat within them for several months after the burn.
• Logging and industrial forest operations must meet basic requirements for fire prevention, such as fire tools, water supply, and watchman service when those operations are occurring on private lands protected by ODF. Contact your local Stewardship Forester at ODF offices for more information.
• Campfires must be DEAD OUT! Recreational campers are reminded that campfires need to be attended and fully extinguished before being left. Get permission from the landowner prior to starting a campfire.
For further information in the NE Oregon District, contact the Oregon Department of Forestry at these local offices:
La Grande Unit (541) 963-3168
Baker City Sub-Unit (541) 523-5831
Wallowa Unit (541) 886-2881
Pendleton Unit (541) 276-3491
To report a fire, dial 9-1-1.
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Kevin Weeks, ODF Public Affairs Office
Fireworks can be fun. A day in the forest can be fun. But don’t mix the two.
A basic, but important safety tip to follow is: Leave the fireworks at home this July Fourth. Even legally sold fireworks that don’t fly or explode can ignite forest vegetation and turn a fun family outing into an emergency response.
If you’re on private land, please coordinate fireworks use with the landowner and use fireworks in a safe manner – including having an emergency water source and shovel at the ready. Firework use is permitted on private and State forestlands protected by ODF unless a local restriction or a Regulated Use Closure is in effect for the region. If you are in or near a forested area, be sure you have the latest up-to-date Fire Season Restrictions and Regulated Use Closure information, available on the ODF web site: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/precautionlevel.shtml
All fireworks are prohibited on all Oregon beaches, in state parks and state campgrounds.
Fireworks are prohibited on all federal BLM-managed lands in Oregon and Washington.
###ODF Public Affairs Office###
The catastrophic wildfires in Colorado and other states serve as a reminder to Oregonians of their individual responsibility to practice wildfire prevention in the weeks ahead. While the current spring-like weather may seem little cause for concern, it can actually lead to human-caused fires.
“When it’s pleasant outside, rather than hot and dry, we’re more likely to head out to the forest,” said Tom Fields, fire prevention coordinator with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). “But people may assume that fires can’t occur under these conditions, and that’s where the danger lies.”
As green as the forests and fields appear across much of the state, during the past week 10 fires have occurred on the lands protected by the department. And warmer, drier days are predicted, setting the stage for new fire starts to spread more rapidly.
Before traveling to the forest to recreate, check to see if there are any fire restrictions in effect. For the 16 million acres of forest under ODF’s jurisdiction, go to:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/precautionlevel.shtml
The web page lists fire restrictions district by district for the entire state.
Fire safety tips for camping and recreating in the forest are available on the Keep Oregon Green Association website, http://www.keeporegongreen.org/, and from other wildfire prevention agencies and organizations, as well as local fire departments.
ODF assists on wildfire next to office
When the Chenowith Rim Fire broke out July 1 in the Columbia Gorge, ODF’s unit office in The Dalles sent four fire engines, a five-person hand crew and a bulldozer to assist other fire agencies fighting the fire. They didn’t have far to go: The 70-acre wildfire burned within 200 feet of the unit office. The blaze caused no damage to the building.
Fire season on forestlands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Southwest District begins Wednesday June 20 just after midnight. The fire danger level is currently “low” (green) but will move to “moderate” (blue) on Wednesday. Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be Level 1. The declaration affects state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Fire season restrictions that will go into effect on June 20 are as follows:
— Debris burning will be prohibited, except burn barrels for which a burn permit has been obtained from ODF. Burn barrel use will be completely prohibited beginning July 1;
— The use of fireworks on forestlands will be prohibited;
— In the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River between Grave creek and Marial:
• Camp fires must be in fire pans or on a fire blanket that is placed on sand or gravel bars between the river and the high water mark, and only in areas which are naturally free of flammable vegetation.;
• Smoking will be permitted on sand and gravel bars between the river and the high water mark, and only in areas naturally free of flammable vegetation, or in boats and rafts while on the river;
• Fireworks will be prohibited;
• Travelers must carry a shovel and a bucket with a capacity of at least one gallon;
— Commercial operations, such as timber harvesting conducted on forestlands will be required to have fire suppression equipment on the job site at all times. A watchman must also be provided.
For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season regulations in SW Oregon please contact the Medford or Grants Pass Unit. Additional information for the district is also available on SWOFIRE — http://swofire.blogspot.com/
On Saturday, Douglas County lands protected by the Douglas Forest Protective Association entered fire season. The start of fire season means the end of unregulated outside debris burning for Douglas County residents. Burn permits will be required and available until June 30th 2012. Residents need to check with their local fire departments for burning restrictions within their fire districts. It also activates industrial fire restrictions on all private, county, state and BLM lands.
Smoking is prohibited while working on, or traveling through, an industrial forest operation and a fire watch service is required at all forest operation sites. As fire season progresses, additional closures and restrictions may be imposed as weather conditions become more severe.
For further information on fire restrictions and forest closures on lands protected by DFPA, call the Closure Information Line at 541-672-0379. For other business, call the DFPA headquarters at 541-672-6507.
ODF Public Affairs Office
The National Weather Service in Boise issued a Red Flag Warning on Sunday for Oregon’s Malheur County, continuing until 6:00pm Mountain Time on Monday.
The warning for increased fire potential was the result of a dry cold front Sunday that created high wind gusts of up to 45 mph forecast for Monday morning, with relative humidity as low as 9 percent in some areas, creating a potential for fire growth should an ignition occur.
The National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings & Fire Weather Watches to alert fire agencies of the onset, or possible onset, of critical weather and dry conditions that could lead to rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity. During these times extreme caution is urged by all residents, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.
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 vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
Fifteen Oregon Department of Forestry fire specialists have been deployed this week to assist fire suppression efforts in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
The largest commitment, 13 ODF specialists and the five fire engines they staff, were deployed to New Mexico to battle a series of fires that have consumed 343,000 acres of the state since mid-May. The fire engines were shipped on flatbed trucks, while the firefighters flew to New Mexico to be reunited with their fire apparatus on Thursday.
These assignments are helping Oregon fire personnel gain additional experience and keep current their national firefighting qualifications. ODF incurs no financial drain by assisting other states, since the jurisdictional agency hosting fire suppression operations pays the bills. As Oregon enters summer weather conditions, ODF’s fire managers will begin to pull back their personnel from the out-of-state assignments to be ready for wildfires here at home.
Kevin Weeks / Oregon Department of Forestry, Public Affairs Office
A ban on all open and backyard burning will take effect on Saturday, June 16, in Linn, Benton and Marion counties. The Oregon Department of Forestry and the fire defense boards of the three counties announced the ban, which aims to reduce the incidence of open debris burns escaping control. The restrictions will extend through October 15 or later, depending on fire danger.
“A lot of green-up is occurring due to the current weather patterns,” said Mike Beaver, Linn County Fire Defense Board Chief. “We expect this to result in heavy fuel loading for the grass models as temperatures rise and the fuels dry out.”
The open burning restrictions coincide with the current air-quality rules set forth by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Those rules already forbid open burning within three miles of cities over 1,000 in population and six miles from cities over 50,000 in population after June 15. These burn restrictions expand the geographical scope to include areas outside the three- and six-mile limit.
Benton County Fire Defense Board Chief Rick Smith urged the public to take note of the upcoming multi-county-wide, residential burn ban starting on June 16.
“We hope this ban on residential burning spurs increased public awareness of wildfires and what people can do to help protect their own property,” Smith said. “The work that a property owner does now to maintain a defensible space around their property will make the difference between losing a home or structure, and keeping their valuable investment intact during a wildfire event.”
The fire defense board chief encouraged property owners to explore other options during the burn ban. Alternatives to burning include: chipping, hauling debris to recycling centers, and composting. All of these options are now available to the public year-round.
Rural fire agencies and the Oregon Department of Forestry have the authority to enforce and regulate the burn ban. Under Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 477, ODF 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 Oregon Department of Forestry office or the local fire department.
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Fire officials in Klamath and Lake Counties will officially declare fire season beginning Friday, May 25, 2012 at 12:01 A.M. on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Klamath-Lake District. Walker Range Fire Protective Association has a fire season declaration underway as of Monday, May 21.This affects all private, county, state forestlands, and those Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands under contract and agreements east and west of Highway 97 in Klamath County.
“Conditions have reached the stage where regulatory fire prevention measures are beneficial in the reduction of the potential of human caused fires at this time of year,” said Greg Pittman, Klamath-Lake District Forester with the Oregon Department of Forestry. “By implementing these annual fire restrictions and promoting public awareness about fire prevention, we can reduce the likelihood of fire problems.”
The “Fire Season in Effect” declaration puts into place regulations restricting debris burning and forest operations. Wildland and structural fire protection agencies in Klamath and Lake Counties 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.
In addition to the “Declaration of Fire Season”, ODF and the Klamath Resource Area of the Bureau of Land Management will be placing the Klamath River Canyon area from the Keno Dam to the State Line in a “Regulated Closure” effective Friday May 25.
The closure stipulates the following conditions for public use:
1) Possession of the following fire-fighting equipment is required while traveling in the forest, except on state and county roads: an axe, a shovel, and one gallon of water or one 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
2) Smoking in wildland areas is permitted only in enclosed vehicles on roads. Smoking is prohibited while working or traveling in an industrial operation area.
3) Open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, are permitted only at posted and designated sites.
4) Non-Industrial Chainsaw usage is prohibited between 1 P.M. and 8 P.M.
5) Fireworks usage is prohibited within the Closure Area.
The Klamath River Canyon has been placed under this Regulated Closure due to its lower elevation, drier fuels, and steep terrain. The Klamath Falls Interagency Fire Center website: http://scofmp.org/kfifc/kfifc.shtml is available to assist in keeping people informed of current and changing conditions for the Klamath region. Walker Range Patrol Association can be contacted at 541-433-2451.
Greg Pittman / Randall Baley, Oregon Department of Forestry Klamath-Lake District
RD Buell, Walker Range Fire Protective Association
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The Walker Range Forest Protection District, which covers northern Klamath County (including the Gilchrist State Forest), will begin fire season at 12:01am this Sunday, May 20. Walker Range is the first protection district to enter fire season for 2012.
Entry into fire season imposes certain restrictions on recreational and work activities in the forest. Industrial operations are required to have firefighting equipment on site. Since restrictions may vary, it is advisable to check with the nearest ODF office for rules specific to the local area.
More information throughout the year on Oregon Department of Forestry districts in Fire Season, Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, and Public Use Restrictions is available on the department’s website at:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/precautionlevel.shtml
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry / Public Affairs Office
The Hickey Fire was reported burning 12 miles east of Lakeview on Wednesday afternoon. The fire on BLM Lakeview District lands burning in sage and timber was estimated at 150 acres on Thursday. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
For information on wildfires in all jurisdictions within Oregon, go to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center website, www.nwccweb.us/ or to the national Incident Information System website, www.inciweb.org/state/38
The Oregon Department of Forestry is responsible for fire protection on private and state-owned forestland, and on a limited amount of other forestlands, including those owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in western Oregon.
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry / Public Affairs Office
ODF Medford Unit responded to a fire reported Wednesday near Little Applegate Road, SW of Medford near the community of Applegate. Five ODF engines and one bulldozer responded to the 24-acre fire, located in brush within a steep canyon. Crews were able to complete a line around the fire early Thursday and the fire is fully contained. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
Three ODF engines are back at the scene Thursday to continue mop-up work at the scene. ODF was assisted Wednesday by U.S. Forest Service resources on the fire.
Kevin Weeks / Oregon Department of Forestry – Public Affairs Office
Resources from the ODF Klamath-Lake District were among the interagency response to the Braymill fire, reported Wednesday afternoon burning northeast of Chiloquin in Klamath County on a mix of private and federal forest lands.
The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership reported Wednesday the fire burned over 17 acres and is believed to have started from an unmonitored burn barrel. Two historic buildings at the Bray Mill Fish Hatchery were destroyed before the fire burned onto the Fremont-Winema National Forest and into a unit of the Chiloquin Community Fuels Project.
Fire suppression efforts on this incident include resources from the Oregon Department of Forestry, USFS Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lakeview District of the Bureau of Land Management, Chiloquin/Agency Lake Rural Fire Protection District, Klamath County Fire District 1 and the Keno Fire Department.
Additional information regarding the fire is being coordinated and released by the Fremont-Winema National Forest.
The 8-acre South Abiqua fire near Silverton was fully contained on Wednesday afternoon. Mop up at the scene is concluded and fire crews released.
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry / Public Affairs Office
The Ridge Road fire, reported Sunday burning east of Timber in NW Oregon, is now fully contained. Cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire size has been mapped at 17 acres.
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry / Public Affairs Office
ODF North Cascade District resources responded to the South Abiqua fire three miles NE of Silverton on Tuesday afternoon. The fire, reported just after Noon, burned ten acres of mostly logging slash according to preliminary reports. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
Two ODF engines responded to the incident, which was expected to be contained later Tuesday.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs Office
The Ridge Road fire near Timber on Sunday was an early season reminder that Oregon’s forest fire season is on the way.
As Oregon approaches summer forest fire season, public firefighting agencies across the state are training and preparing personnel, getting equipment ready and planning for emergency response scenarios. But in addition to federal, state, regional and interagency fire resources, the private landowners of Oregon are a vital partner in preventing devastating forest fires.
About 35 percent of Oregon’s forests, roughly 10.7 million acres, are privately owned. Industrial timber owners manage 6 million acres while 4.7 million acres of forest are owned by families or small-tract woodland owners.
Private forest owners – the first line of fire defense
Oregon law requires forest landowners and those who work in the forest to control and extinguish wildfires that occur on their land. If that isn’t possible, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) or a regional forest protective association must respond and extinguish the fire.
Forestland owners pay a forest patrol fee, part of their annual property tax statement, to meet basic forest firefighting requirements. During 2011, ODF crews responded to almost 700 fires across the state, covering just over 2,637 acres. Most fires were stopped at just a few acres, – before they became large, costly incidents that threatened communities or made the news thanks to the swift initial attack response of firefighters and private landowners.
Owners of large forest holdings and small woodlands – as well as people who enjoy a home in a forested setting – all have responsibilities as fire season approaches. Here are some things to think about during this period:
Check your fire equipment.
Acquire basic forest firefighting equipment suitable to your circumstances, and ensure that it is in good working order. Your local fire protection district will have additional guidance specific to your region of the state, including fire suppression factors for your unique land conditions (for example, terrain, fire characteristics, rules based on land ownership, etc).
Create defensible space around structures and homes on your property.
Remove overgrown or dead vegetation at least 30 feet from structures to reduce the potential of a forest fire spreading to a building.
Make sure the spark arrestor screens on power saws are in good shape.
Even if you are using a chain saw in the woods for personal uses, fire prevention rules still apply in Oregon’s forests.
Have your fire extinguishers recharged and inspected.
Keep a working, charged fire extinguisher with each vehicle, and keep an extinguisher on board power equipment such as riding lawn mowers and weed cutters while they’re in operation.
Have an emergency water source for fire suppression and pumps available.
If it’s feasible, consider building a pond to provide a water supply for pumps. Deeper large ponds in flat, clear areas free of overhead obstructions can also be accessed by helicopters for water dips to assist aerial attack on fires.
Construct and maintain fire breaks along public roads that adjoin or pass through your property. Reduce the amount of vegetation that could catch fire – or block an emergency vehicle from entering your property.
Operate equipment in your forest in compliance with fire regulations that apply to your region.
Get familiar with both the Restricted Use Closure (RUC) and Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) systems used for fire prevention in Oregon’s forests. Additional information about RUC and IFPL are available on the Oregon Department of Forestry website at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/precautionlevel.shtml
Use the same fire precautions at your forest home as you do in the forest.
If an IFPL 3 condition has logging operations in your area shut down from noon to 8pm due to high potential for fire, please don’t mow your tinder-dry lawn or burn yard trimmings.
Understand the fire triangle that increases forest fire potential – high heat, low humidity and strong winds. These three natural forces converge to create a higher risk for forest fires.
If you see a fire in Oregon’s forests, call 9-1-1 immediately.
For additional information about forest fire safety, fire prevention and forest management, visit, www.oregon.gov/ODF. You’ll find information on contacting the department’s offices in your part of the state at www.oregon.gov/ODF/offices.shtml.
Thanks in advance for your help in protecting public safety, property and Oregon’s forests.
ODF Public Affairs Office
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