The recent rains across the region have
allowed officials with the Oregon Department of Forestry in Northeast Oregon
District to reassess and adjust the fire restrictions for private lands.
“The recent moisture has reduced fire danger
enough to allow for more activities in the woods. We’re just at a point where we feel easing
our fire restrictions is justified. However, there’s still a need for caution
when out enjoying the woods.” Said Mitch Williams, Wildland Fire Supervisor, La
Grande Unit. “Conditions could rapidly change
back to warm and windy and fuels could quickly dry back out”.
The fire season regulations and Regulated Use
Closure will still be in effect.
Regulated Use Closure is being lowered from Phase 2 to Phase 1. The Regulated Use Closure affects private,
state, county, municipal, and tribal lands in seven counties: Union, Baker,
Wallowa, Umatilla, and small portions of Malheur, Morrow, and Grant
Counties. Effective September 7, 2016 at
12:01 a.m. the following regulations apply to lands protected by the Oregon Department
of Forestry Northeast Oregon District:
· Open fires are prohibited, including
campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at
designated locations. Designated
locations with the Regulated Use Closure area include but are not limited to
the following Oregon State Parks: Emigrant Springs, Ukiah Dale, Catherine
Creek, Hilgard Junctions, Red Bridge, Wallowa Lake, Minam and Unity Lake. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or
bottled fuels are allowed.
· Debris burning is prohibited, except in burn
barrels for which a Burning Permit has been issued.
· Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except
in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, or at a cleared area free
of flammable vegetation.
· Non-Industrial chainsaw use is prohibited,
between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Chainsaw use is permitted at all
other hours, if the following firefighting equipment is present with each
operating saw: one axe, one shovel, and
one 8 ounce or larger fire extinguisher.
In addition, a fire watch is required at least 1 hour following the use
of each saw.
· Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is
prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is permitted
at all other hours, if conducted in a cleared area and if a water supply is
present.
· Mowing of dried and cured grass with power
driven equipment is prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
· 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.
· Possession of the following firefighting
equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads
and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2 ½ pound or larger
fire extinguisher.
The use of sky lanterns, exploding targets
and tracer ammunition are prohibited during fire season.
Please note that when traveling
from private lands onto federally managed lands, land use restrictions may
differ. Please check restrictions before
conducting outdoor activities. More
information regarding fire danger can be found at www.bmidc.org/restrictions.shtml.
http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/
is your spot
for current fire information in the Blue Mountains.
To report a fire, call Blue
Mountain Interagency Dispatch at (541)963-7171 or dial 9-1-1.
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