Oregon Department of Forestry launches fire season in Northeast Oregon District

La Grande, OR— Despite scattered rains from recent thunderstorms around the region, parts of the Northeast Oregon District are showing increased potential for fire starts. Forecasted higher temperatures and drier conditions have prompted fire managers with Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to declare FIRE SEASON beginning at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, June 28 for forest and range lands protected by ODF Northeast Oregon District. “Long range forecasts indicate high to extreme fire danger beginning in July and extending through September across the district.” Justin Lauer, Pendleton Wildland Fire Supervisor said. “The light fuels in the lower elevations will cure out quickly and carry fire readily.” The fire season declaration places fire prevention restrictions on landowners and public. Additionally, fire prevention regulations on industrial logging and forest management activities are put into place. Lands affected include private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands in Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties along with small portions of Malheur, Morrow and Grant counties within the Northeast Oregon Forest Protection District. This area encompasses approximately 2 million protected acres. The public are urged to use caution in areas of dry, cured vegetation. Lauer states “It’s easy to be complacent when we’ve had a few days of storms, but fuel conditions and weather will change rapidly. We need everyone to use caution, check regulations before they head out and keep an eye out for fires while they’re out and about.”

During Fire Season:
• Burn Permits for burn barrels and all open burning except camp fires are required on all private forest and range lands within the Northeast Forest Protection District of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Contact your local ODF office in La Grande, Baker City, Wallowa, or Pendleton to acquire a Burn Permit.

• Landowners who conducted burning of slash piles last fall and this spring are encouraged to check the piles to ensure they are completely out and all heat is gone. It is not uncommon for recently burned slash piles to retain heat in them for several months after the actual burning of the piles.

• Logging and other industrial operations must meet requirements for fire prevention, such as fire tools, water supply, and watchman service when those operations are occurring on lands protected by ODF. Contact your local Stewardship Forester at any ODF office for more information.

• Campfires must be DEAD OUT! Recreationists 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, 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.

For information on the weekends call:
Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center La Grande (541) 963-7171

Please check with your local Forest Service office for fire regulations on National Forest land. Information on Public-Use Restrictions on the Oregon Department of Forestry, Umatilla National Forest and Wallowa Whitman National Forest can be found at http://bmidc.org/index.shtml under Current Information: Fire Restrictions.

http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/ is your spot for current fire information in the Blue Mountains.

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