Fire danger decreases slightly across the region due to recent weather pattern-Regulated Use Closure still in effect for lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry

La Grande, Ore.-As of 12:01 am, August 23, 2021, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has reduced the restrictions associated with Regulated-Use Closure, or Public Use Restrictions for forestlands protected by the Northeast Oregon District.  Due to moderating weather and seasonal temperatures and precipitation, fire restrictions have decreased slightly. 

Changes include:

·   Open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires, and warming fires are still prohibited except at designated locations.  Portable cooking stoves using liquified or bottled fuel are allowed.  For information on designated campgrounds, please call your local ODF office.

·   Non-industrial chainsaw use is prohibited between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 8 p.m.  Chainsaw use is allowed at all other hours if there is one axe, one shovel, and one 8 ounce or larger fire extinguisher for each operating saw.  A one-hour fire watch is also required. 

·   Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is prohibited, between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.  These activities are 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 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., except for the commercial culture and harvest of agriculture crops.

Steve Meyer, Baker Wildland Fire Supervisor, cautions “While the recent change in the temperature and the showers that were received were welcome, it’s still August and we’re still in high fire danger. Fuel conditions are still dry, and everyone should still use abundant caution when they head out to the woods.”

While Public Use fire restrictions have decreased, Regulated Use Closure remains in effect for private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.  The Northeast Oregon District includes lands in the following counties:  Union, Baker, Umatilla, Wallowa, and small portions of Grant, Morrow, and Malheur counties.

For more information on fire prevention restrictions in the Northeast Oregon District call: (541)975-3027

Fire restrictions may differ on lands protected by rural fire departments or lands managed by the US Forest Service or BLM.  More information on fire restrictions can be found on the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center website at www.bmidc.org.

To report a fire, call the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center at (541)963-7171, or dial 9-1-1. 

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