Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Lowers Public Use Restrictions to Phase B
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, August 27th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
NORTHEAST OREGON – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest fire prevention managers are downgrading the current Public Use Restriction (PUR) to PUR Phase B effective at 00:01 Tuesday, Aug. 27.
This lifted restriction comes just in time for Labor Day weekend.
While this allows visitors to have campfires in dedicated recreation sites, we ask the public to continue to help us protect our Forest from preventable wildfire.
Campfires ONLY at designated areas: Campfires are only allowed in fire pits provided at the designated recreation sites listed below, or within the Eagle Cap Wilderness (except for year-around campfire rules on the back of Eagle Cap Wilderness permits). Liquefied and bottled gas stoves and heaters may be used, but charcoal fires are not allowed. Wood-burning stoves may be used if equipped with a chimney at least 5-feet in length and a spark-arresting screen consisting of ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth, and all flammable vegetation within a 3-foot radius is cleared, including overhanging material.
Separate rules apply within a ¼ mile of the Wild and Scenic portions of the Snake River and Grande Ronde River:
fs.usda.gov/alerts/wallowa-whitman/alerts-notices
Public lands in Idaho administered by the Wallowa-Whitman follow separate Idaho Fire Restrictions:
Use of Chainsaws: Use of Chainsaws or other Internal Combustion Engines (other than a motor vehicle) are Not Allowed. Generators will only be allowed, when fully contained in the bed of a pickup truck or in an area that has been cleared, at least 10 feet in diameter, of all flammable material.
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 at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Firefighting and aviation resources are poised to respond to growth on existing large fires as well as emerging fires. With increasing smoke impacts, it’s important to stay smoke ready by visiting https://www.airnow.gov/
With dry forest fuels and high daytime temperatures,
conditions are prime for human- caused forest fires.
We ask everyone to be extremely careful when out in the forest.
For more information on fire restrictions, contact a Forest Service office or visit our websites: http://bmidc.org/restrictions.shtml or www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/
Remember, if you see a wildfire, Call 911.
