Wallowa Whitman National Forest downgrades to public use restrictions phase-A 

NORTHEAST OREGON – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest fire prevention managers have downgraded the Public Use Restriction (PUR) to PUR Phase A effective at 00:01 Saturday, September 14. This reduction on restrictions will allow campfires outside established camping sites.

The recent rain and cooler weather contributed highly to this decision a week before the official start of Autumn.

Thank you all for your incredible efforts in preventing wildfires. Your dedication to safety and care for our Forest has made a huge difference. Let’s keep up the amazing work—together, we can continue protecting our communities and our natural spaces.

         FIRE & STOVE RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

• A shovel and at least a gallon of water should be present at all times. Fires should be drowned and stirred – then drowned and stirred again – until cool enough to touch.

• Keep campfires and charcoal briquette fires contained in an earthen pit, metal fire ring, or rock ring, with all combustible material removed within a 5-foot radius of the perimeter of the fire ring – and clear of overhanging material.

• Portable cooking stoves and portable fireplaces should have all combustible material removed within a 5-foot radius. Wood burning stoves should be equipped with a chimney at least 5-feet in length and a spark-arresting screen consisting of ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth.

• Campfires are restricted in the Eagle Cap Wilderness to reduce impacts on lakes. Please review the rules on the back of your Wilderness permit.

• Separate rules apply within a ¼ mile of the Wild and Scenic portions of the Snake River fs.usda.gov/alerts/wallowa-whitman/alerts-notices Public lands in Idaho administered by the Wallowa-Whitman follow separate Idaho Fire Restrictions idahofireinfo.com/p/fire-restrictions.html

OTHER RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE:

• Use of Chainsaws: Chainsaws may be operated only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time. This prohibition does not apply to personal-use and commercial firewood permit holders operating under the terms of their permit. Except for motor vehicles, combustion engines may not be used without a spark-arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order per Forest Service Standard 5100-1. 36 CFR § 261.520).

• Traveling Off Developed Forest Roads and Trails is Not Allowed, except for the purpose of going to and from a campsite located within 300 feet of the open developed road. All motorized travel on roads closed by gates, barricades, berms, rocks, or logs is prohibited.

• No Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, developed recreation site or while stopped in an area that is cleared of flammable material within at least three feet.

Fires are still burning across the PNW; it’s important to stay smoke ready by visiting https://www.airnow.gov/

For more information on fire restrictions, contact a Forest Service office or visit our websites:

http://bmidc.org/restrictions.shtml

www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman

http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/

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Elkhorn Media Group