Public Use Restrictions Increase to Phase B

Release Date: July 25, 2018
Contact: Mike Stearly (541)575-3144, Darcy Weseman (541) 278-3722 or Katy Gray (541)519-4623

Public Use Restrictions Increase to Phase B 
Chainsaw use prohibited and campfires allowed only in designated recreation sites

John Day, Pendleton and Baker City, Ore. – Forest officials will implement Phase B Public Use Restrictions at 12:01 AM on Friday, July 27, 2018, on the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests due to high fire danger, the potential for human caused fires, and concern for public safety. The increased restrictions pertain to the use of campfires, smoking, chainsaws, internal combustion engines, and generators.

Beginning Friday, campfires will ONLY be allowed in designated campgrounds and recreation sites. Liquefied or bottled gas stoves and heaters are allowed for cooking and heating.  A list of designated recreation sites is available on the forest’s websites. 

Operating an internal combustion engine, such as a chainsaw, is prohibited.

Generators will only be allowed in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material, or; when fully contained within a pickup truck bed that is devoid of all flammable material, or; when factory installed in a recreational vehicle and the generator exhaust discharge is located in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material.

Smoking is only allowed within enclosed vehicles, buildings, and developed recreation sites or when stopped in an area cleared of all flammable material.

As a reminder, travel restrictions prohibit motor vehicles traveling off of designated Forest roads and trails, except for the purposes of going to or from campsites located within 300 feet of an open road. Motorized travel on segments of road where access is blocked by gate, barricade, log, boulder or earthen berm is also prohibited.  Vehicles must still abide by all laws and regulations pertaining to the area of travel.

Regulated closures are in effect on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon.  Please check with your local Oregon Department of Forestry office for public use restrictions on lands protected by ODF.  For more complete information contact a local Oregon Department of Forestry office or visit one of the interagency dispatch center’s webpages:

John Day Interagency Dispatch Center/Burns Interagency Communications Center webpage:  http://bicc-jdidc.org/index.shtml

Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch webpage: www.bmidc.org

Similar restrictions may be in effect on State and private lands protected by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WA-DNR).  More information can be found on the WA-DNR website at: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/

For more information and a list of designated recreation areas and campsites where campfires are permitted during Phase B Public Use Restrictions, please contact:

Malheur National Forest:

Information Hotline: John Day (541) 575-3000

www.facebook.com/MalheurNationalForest

Twitter: @MalheurNF

Umatilla National Forest:

Information Hotline: Toll-Free (877) 958-9663

www.facebook.com/UmatillaNF

Twitter: @UmatillaNF

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest:

Information Hotlines: Baker City (541) 523-1234; La Grande (541) 962-8679; Joseph (541) 426-5552

www.facebook.com/WallowaWhitmanNF

Twitter: @WallowaWhitman

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