Oregon Department of Forestry initiates fire season in Northeast Oregon District

June 25, 2020
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jamie Knight (541)786-2039

La Grande, OR- While wetter conditions were prevalent throughout the spring across much of the Oregon Department of Forestry-Northeast Oregon District, the weather is changing to a typical summer pattern of warmer and drier conditions.  The expected trend of fuel conditions in the region has prompted fire managers to announce the beginning of Fire Season on private lands protected by ODF.  This declaration is initiated in an effort to reduce the number of human-caused fires this summer.  “The fuel conditions will change rapidly with these summer weather conditions.  In some areas, we have an abundance of light and flashy fuels.  These fuels will dry out quickly with the hotter and drier weather.  These flashy fuels will often carry fire rapidly when they have dried out.”  Said Joe Hessel, District Forester.    

FIRE SEASON will begin at 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, July 1 for forest and rangelands protected by ODF Northeast Oregon District.  The Fire Season declaration places fire prevention restrictions on landowners and the 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. 

During Fire Season 2020:

·           Debris burning is prohibited this season.  This includes ALL burn barrels and debris piles.

·           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 before starting a campfire. 

·           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.

“This year, debris burning is prohibited from the beginning of Fire Season.  We normally restrict debris burning a month or so into Fire Season, depending on conditions.  This change is an effort to mitigate COVID-19 exposure potential for the public and our firefighters.  We also want to be sensitive to negative smoke impacts for our vulnerable populations, and reduce the resource commitments typically associated with escaped fires.” Said Hessel.

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

Make sure you know what the fire restrictions are before you head out.  Check with your local Forest Service office for fire regulations on National Forest land, or BLM office for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.  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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Forest Service pauses prescribed fire across Pacific Northwest

Portland, Ore. – The USDA Forest Service is pausing all spring prescribed fire efforts on national forest lands across the states of Oregon and Washington.

“We care deeply about our communities across the region and didn’t want to risk introducing smoke from prescribed fire into communities that may be affected by COVID-19,” said John Giller, Director of Fire and Aviation Management for the Pacific Northwest Region of the USDA Forest Service. “With this pause, we can better protect those who may also be in higher-risk groups for COVID-19, such as the elderly and those with underlying respiratory conditions.”    

While frequent, low-intensity fire is essential to the long-term health of many northwest forests and communities, employee and public safety remains the top priority.

The Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region contains 17 National Forests, a National Scenic Area, a National Grassland, and two National Volcanic Monuments, all within the States of Oregon and Washington.

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State agencies ask Oregonians to voluntarily refrain from outdoor burning while communities respond to COVID-19

(SALEM, Ore.) — In response to the "Stay Home, Save Lives" Executive Order to reduce the effects of the COVID-19 virus, a coalition of Oregon state agencies are asking Oregonians to voluntarily refrain from conducting outdoor burning.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office (OSFM), Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) recognize that many Oregonians use fire as a necessary tool to manage their lands, including industrial forest landowners, farmers, small woodland owners, and rural residents. However, it’s important to weigh possible effects on the wider community before choosing to burn. Please be a good neighbor. Smoke from fires during the current pandemic may result in the following negative consequences for the public and first responders:

• Smoke inhalation can cause upper respiratory symptoms, which could be incorrectly attributed to COVID-19, leading to unnecessary testing or self-isolation.
• Exposure to smoke and other forms of air pollution can increase the risk of contracting infectious respiratory disease such as COVID-19, increase the severity of existing respiratory infections, and worsen underlying chronic respiratory conditions.
• There is a severe shortage of personal protective equipment to reduce smoke exposure at this time.
• First responders and other emergency services are operating at a reduced capacity and have limited resources to respond to out-of-control burns.

COVID-19 affects the respiratory system. Fever, cough and difficulty breathing are the most common symptoms. While some people with COVID-19 are hospitalized, most patients recover at home, where smoke from a nearby outdoor burn could worsen their condition. To avoid additional health impacts, all people in Oregon are asked to voluntarily refrain from conducting outdoor burning activities until further notice.

Burning that can be delayed includes:

·         Debris burning around one’s property

·         Burn barrels

·         Industrial burning

·         Slash and forest  burning

·         Agricultural burning that would impact neighbors and can be delayed

Local officials may already have prohibited outdoor burning in your area. If you must conduct outdoor burning, please first check with your local fire agency to see if outdoor burning is still allowed. If it is, please follow best burn practices, which can be found on the website of the Office of the State Fire Marshall.

DEQ, ODF, OSFM, and ODA encourage the public to use the following alternatives to burning when available:

·         Recycle paper products when possible

·         Compost or chip yard debris on site

·         Haul to a yard debris composting or recycling site

·         Reuse old lumber

For more information, visit:

ODF - https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Fire/pages/Burn.aspx

DEQ - https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/Burning.aspx

ODA - https://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/NaturalResources/Pages/Burning.aspx

OHA COVID-19 website - https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19

Umatilla National Forest Fire Update

PENDLETON, Ore. – Favorable weather conditions and increased relative humidity continue to keep fire behavior minimal on recent fires that are burning on the Heppner and North Fork John Day Ranger Districts.

Given the time of year and current weather, the Forest has taken a strategic approach on two of the recent fires to help create fuel breaks to work from in the event of future wildfires, while also reducing overstocked and hazardous fuel conditions in the area, restoring forest health and resilience, and improving foraging habitat for big game. The other two fires on the Forest have been contained.  This will be the final update unless conditions change.

The West Texas Fire, which is located approximately nine miles south of Ukiah near Texas Bar on the North Fork John Day Ranger District, is now 34 acres in size and is creeping in open timber. Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor the potential spread of the fire in comparison to values at risk. 

Fire crews continue to patrol and monitor on the Skookum Fire on the Heppner Ranger District, which is located approximately one mile northwest of the Alder Creek/Skookum Trailhead and two miles northeast of the Tupper Guard Station. The fire is approximately 115 acres in size and continues to smolder in a mixture of grass, brush, timber and snags (dead or burned trees).

The public is asked to use caution when recreating on the Forest and to be aware of increased hazards, particularly snags and smoky conditions. Both the North Fork John Day and Heppner Ranger Districts have been actively implementing prescribed burning activities and forest visitors may see smoke in other portions of the districts. Utilizing fire as a tool during these current mild conditions reduces the risk of uncontrolled wildfires during future fire seasons.

Forest officials also ask that visitors do not camp or hang out in burned areas. Dead or dying trees that remain standing after a fire are unstable, especially in high winds. Loose rocks and logs can be present in a burned area and are unpredictable, creating a falling a hazard. Additionally, burned vegetation can also contribute to landslides, mudslides and erosion when rain occurs. The ground in a burned area can also be unstable, due to burned-out roots beneath the surface.  After soils and vegetation have been charred, rainfall that would normally be absorbed could run off extremely quickly.

With many visitors on the Forest right now, Forest officials recommend the following campfire safety precautions:

·       Campfires should be in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not conducive to rapid fire spread.  All flammable material shall be cleared within a 3-foot radius from the edge of the pit and free of overhanging material. Use existing pits wherever possible. (Note: within the Grande Ronde Scenic Waterway, campfires must be contained in a fireproof container (i.e., "fire pan") with sides of a height sufficient to contain all ash and debris, and all ashes and debris must be removed from the river corridor. Do not use or construct fire pits or rock fire rings within the Scenic Waterway.)

·       Campfires must be attended at all times, and completely extinguished prior to leaving.

·       Persons with campfires should carry a tool that can serve as a shovel and one gallon of water in their possession. The intent of this recommendation is to ensure individuals with a campfire to have the tools necessary to completely extinguish their campfire.

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

For more information about prescribed burning on the Umatilla National Forest, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/y8b433th.

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Umatilla National Forest Fire Update

West Texas Fire - Nov. 5, 2019

PENDLETON, Ore. – Firefighters on the Umatilla National Forest have made progress on recent fires discovered on the Heppner and North Fork John Day Ranger Districts.

Given the time of year and favorable weather conditions, the Forest is taking a strategic approach on two of the recent fires, which will help create fuel breaks to work from in the event of future wildfires, while also reducing overstocked and hazardous fuel conditions in the area, restoring forest health and resilience, and improving foraging habitat for big game. 

The West Texas Fire, which is located approximately nine miles south of Ukiah near Texas Bar on the North Fork John Day Ranger District, is now 10 acres in size and is creeping and smoldering in open timber. An engine and two additional firefighters will be on scene today patrolling and mapping the burned area to assess fire behavior and the potential spread of the fire in comparison to values at risk.  This suppression strategy will continue to allow the fire to reduce fuel loadings and contribute to a more resilient landscape in the area.

Fire crews conducted burn out operations yesterday on the Skookum Fire on the Heppner Ranger District, which is located approximately one mile northwest of the Alder Creek/Skookum Trailhead and two miles northeast of the Tupper Guard Station. The fire is approximately 50 acres in size and continues to smolder in a mixture of grass, brush, timber and snags (dead or burned trees). Yesterday’s suppression actions focused on managing fire growth and direction of spread.  Firefighters continue to monitor the fire and weather forecast to assess options for accomplishing additional fuels reduction objectives by actively moving the fire across the landscape. 

The public is asked to use caution when recreating on the Forest and to be aware of increased hazards, particularly snags and smoky conditions. Both the North Fork John Day and Heppner Ranger Districts are actively implementing prescribed burning activities and forest visitors may see smoke in other portions of the districts. Utilizing fire as a tool during these current mild conditions reduces the risk of uncontrolled wildfires during future fire seasons.

Forest officials also ask that visitors do not camp or hang out in burned areas. Dead or dying trees that remain standing after a fire are unstable, especially in high winds. Loose rocks and logs can be present in a burned area and are unpredictable, creating a falling a hazard. Additionally, burned vegetation can also contribute to landslides, mudslides and erosion when rain occurs. The ground in a burned area can also be unstable, due to burned-out roots beneath the surface.  After soils and vegetation have been charred, rainfall that would normally be absorbed could run off extremely quickly.

With many visitors on the Forest right now, Forest officials recommend the following campfire safety precautions:

·       Campfires should be in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not conducive to rapid fire spread.  All flammable material shall be cleared within a 3-foot radius from the edge of the pit and free of overhanging material. Use existing pits wherever possible. (Note: within the Grande Ronde Scenic Waterway, campfires must be contained in a fireproof container (i.e., "fire pan") with sides of a height sufficient to contain all ash and debris, and all ashes and debris must be removed from the river corridor. Do not use or construct fire pits or rock fire rings within the Scenic Waterway.)

·       Campfires must be attended at all times, and completely extinguished prior to leaving.

·       Persons with campfires should carry a tool that can serve as a shovel and one gallon of water in their possession. The intent of this recommendation is to ensure individuals with a campfire to have the tools necessary to completely extinguish their campfire.

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

For more information about prescribed burning on the Umatilla National Forest, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/y8b433th.

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Fire crews respond to late season fires on the Umatilla National Forest

PENDLETON, Ore. – Firefighters on the Umatilla National Forest have been busy responding to new starts on the North Fork John Day and Heppner Ranger Districts, with a total of four fires reported over the weekend.

Three fires were reported on the North Fork John Day Ranger District and firefighters have contained one of the three fires. The West Texas Fire is the largest of the fires and is located approximately nine miles south of Ukiah near Texas Bar. The four-acre fire was reported at 6:17 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2019, and is creeping and smoldering in open timber. Given the time of year, hazards within the fire area, minimal fire behavior and favorable weather conditions, firefighters will patrol and monitor the fire over the next several days, allowing the fire to reduce fuel loadings and contribute to a more resilient landscape. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

Fire crews continue to patrol and monitor the Skookum Fire on the Heppner Ranger District, which was reported on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, approximately one mile northwest of the Alder Creek/Skookum Trailhead and two miles northeast of the Tupper Guard Station. The fire is approximately 40 acres in size and continues to smolder in a mixture of grass, brush, timber and snags (dead or burned trees). The suppression strategy for the Skookum fire will aim to reduce overstocked and hazardous fuel conditions in the area, restore forest health and resilience, reduce current and future firefighter exposure and improve foraging habitat for big game.  

The public is asked to use caution when recreating on the Forest and to be aware of increased hazards, particularly snags and smoky conditions. Both the North Fork John Day and Heppner Ranger Districts are actively implementing prescribed burning activities and forest visitors may see smoke in other portions of the districts. Utilizing fire as a tool during these current mild conditions reduces the risk of uncontrolled wildfires during future fire seasons.

Forest officials also ask that visitors do not camp or hang out in burned areas. Dead or dying trees that remain standing after a fire are unstable, especially in high winds. Loose rocks and logs can be present in a burned area and are unpredictable, creating a falling a hazard. Additionally, burned vegetation can also contribute to landslides, mudslides and erosion when rain occurs. The ground in a burned area can also be unstable, due to burned-out roots beneath the surface.  After soils and vegetation have been charred, rainfall that would normally be absorbed could run off extremely quickly.

With many visitors on the Forest right now, Forest officials recommend the following campfire safety precautions:

·       Campfires should be in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not conducive to rapid fire spread.  All flammable material shall be cleared within a 3-foot radius from the edge of the pit and free of overhanging material. Use existing pits wherever possible. (Note: within the Grande Ronde Scenic Waterway, campfires must be contained in a fireproof container (i.e., "fire pan") with sides of a height sufficient to contain all ash and debris, and all ashes and debris must be removed from the river corridor. Do not use or construct fire pits or rock fire rings within the Scenic Waterway.)

·       Campfires must be attended at all times, and completely extinguished prior to leaving.

·       Persons with campfires should carry a tool that can serve as a shovel and one gallon of water in their possession. The intent of this recommendation is to ensure individuals with a campfire to have the tools necessary to completely extinguish their campfire.

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

For more information about prescribed burning on the Umatilla National Forest, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/y8b433th.

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Skookum Fire currently burning on the Heppner Ranger District

PENDLETON, Ore. – Forest staff on the Heppner Ranger District discovered the Skookum fire on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, located approximately one mile northwest of the Alder Creek/Skookum Trailhead and two miles northeast of the Tupper Guard Station. The 17-acre fire is creeping and smoldering in a mixture of grass, brush, timber and snags (dead or burned trees). Given the time of year, hazards within the fire area, minimal fire behavior and favorable weather conditions, firefighters will patrol and monitor the fire over the next several days, allowing the fire to reduce fuel loadings and contribute to a more resilient landscape.

The suppression strategy for the Skookum fire will aim to reduce overstocked and hazardous fuel conditions in the area, restore forest health and resilience, reduce current and future firefighter exposure and improve foraging habitat for big game.  The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

The public is asked to use caution when entering the area and be aware of increased hazards, particularly snags and smoky conditions. Smoke may be visible from Highway 207. Additionally, the Heppner Ranger District is actively implementing prescribed pile burning and forest visitors could see smoke in other portions of the district.

Forest officials ask that visitors do not camp or hang out in a burned area. Dead or dying trees that remain standing after a fire are unstable, especially in high winds. Loose rocks and logs can be present in a burned area and are unpredictable, creating a falling a hazard. Additionally, burned vegetation can also contribute to landslides, mudslides and erosion when rain occurs. The ground in a burned area can also be unstable, due to burned-out roots beneath the surface.  After soils and vegetation have been charred, rainfall that would normally be absorbed could run off extremely quickly.

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

For more information about prescribed burning on the Umatilla National Forest, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/y8b433th.

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