ODF decreases public use restrictions in NE Oregon
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
NORTHEAST OREGON – (Release from the Oregon Department of Forestry) Due to moderating weather and precipitation, we are lowering our restrictions from extreme to high fire danger, effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, August 22nd. Weather conditions have intervened in the short term, but our forest fuels remain critically dry. Our fire managers want to remind everyone that the recent precipitation has been welcoming across the region. However, staying aware of how quickly conditions can change is essential. A warm or breezy day can dry the lighter fuels out, and we can soon be back into a dangerous fire situation. While Public Use fire restrictions have eased, Fire Season remains in effect for private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry.
Here is a reminder of the restrictions that will be in place for high fire danger:
PROHIBITED:
- All open debris burning and the use of burn barrels.
- Open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires, and warming fires, except at designated locations.
- Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
- Propane fire pits are allowed if they are self-contained and 3 feet away from any flammable fuels with a maximum flame height of 2 feet.
- Non-industrial Chainsaw use is prohibited from Noon-8 PM.
- Non-industrial chainsaw use is allowed at all other hours if the following firefighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one shovel or other firefighting tools and one 8-ounce or larger fire extinguisher or 1-gallon of water. In addition, a fire watch is required at least one hour following the end of chainsaw use.
- Electric Chainsaws are allowed all day.
- Use of fireworks.
- Use of exploding targets.
- Use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base.
- Any electric fence controller in use shall be: 1) Listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services; and 2) Operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Smoking while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, boats on the water, or a cleared area free of flammable vegetation.
- Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required for any vehicle/UTV/ATV traveling on unimproved roadways where flammable vegetation exists on roadway; shovel or other firefighting tools, minimum of 1 gallon of water, or 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
- Mowing dried and cured grass with power-driven equipment is prohibited from Noon-8 PM, except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
- Electric string trimmers are allowed all day.
- Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is prohibited from Noon-8 PM. Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal are permitted at all other hours if conducted in a 10-foot area cleared of flammable vegetation, shovel, or other firefighting tools, a minimum of 1 gallon of water, or a 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
- Use of sky lanterns throughout the year in Oregon.
Fire restrictions are in place to help prevent human-caused wildfires. Please be sure to know the restrictions in the area, as they may differ on lands protected by other agencies. You can find up-to-date information for fire restrictions on all area forests by visiting www.bmidc.org or contacting the Oregon Department of Forestry Northeast Oregon Fire Prevention Information Line for more information on ODF’s Public Use Restrictions: (541) 975-3027.
To report a fire, call Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch at (541) 963-7171 or dial 9-1-1.
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