Fire Season still in effect, Regulated-Use Closure terminated on lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, September 30th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
EASTERN OREGON – (Release from the Oregon Department of Forestry) As of 12:01 am, September 30, 2022, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has terminated the Regulated Use Closure or Public Use Restrictions for forestlands protected by the Northeast Oregon District. Due to moderating weather and precipitation, the closure and the associated fire prevention restrictions are no longer necessary. Justin Lauer, Pendleton Unit Forester, cautions “Recent cooler weather and precipitation has been welcomed across the region, however, it’s important to stay aware of how quickly conditions can change. A warm or breezy day can dry the lighter fuels out and we can quickly 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. Burn permits are required for debris burning and burn barrels. Making sure that campfires are always attended is a good step towards fire safety. Ensure the fire is dead out before leaving.
The Northeast Oregon District includes lands in the following counties: Union, Baker, Umatilla, Wallowa, and small portions of Grant, Morrow and Malheur counties.
Here is a reminder of the restrictions that will be in place for moderate fire danger:
- Permit Required for all open debris burning and use of burn barrels.
- Contact your local ODF office as listed below to inquire about a permit.
- Campfires for recreational and/or cooking purposes are allowed.
- Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required; a shovel or other firefighting tool, a minimum of 1 gallon of water, or 2 ½ pounds or larger fire extinguisher, and a fire watch at least one hour after extinguishing.
- Use of exploding targets.
- Use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base.
- Use of sky lanterns throughout the year in Oregon.
Fire restrictions may differ on lands protected by rural fire departments or lands managed by the US Forest Service or BLM. Check local regulations before burning. More information on fire restrictions can be found the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center website at www.bmidc.org.
For more information on fire prevention restrictions in the Northeast Oregon District call: (541)975-3027
For further information, call your local ODF office:
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, call the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center at (541)963-7171, or dial 9-1-1. http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/ is your spot for current fire information in the Blue Mountains.
