Industrial restrictions ease in the woods of Grant County
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, September 14th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
JOHN DAY – (Press Release from the Malheur National Forest)
With the moisture that the forest received over the weekend and predicted for the coming week, the Malheur National Forest including the Prairie City, Blue Mountain, and Emigrant Creek Ranger districts will be moving from Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL)IV to an IFPL III and lowering the Fire Danger Rating from Extreme to High, effective September 10, 2021. Waivers will still be required for some types of work.
III Partial Shutdown – The following are prohibited except as indicated:
· Cable yarding – except that gravity operated logging systems employing non-motorized carriages may operate between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m., local time, when all blocks and moving lines are suspended 10 feet above the ground, except the line between the carriage and the chokers.
· Power saws – except power saws may be used at loading sites and on tractor/skidder operations between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m., local time.
**In addition, the following are permitted between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time:
· Tractor/skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations where tractors, skidders, or other equipment with a blade capable of constructing fireline are immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start;
· Mechanized loading or hauling of any product or material
· Blasting
· Welding or cutting of metal
Any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned.
Public Use Restrictions (PUR) on the Malheur National Forest will remain at Phase C. For more information regarding Public Use Restrictions please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/fire/?cid=fsbdev3_033802 or call 541-575-3113.
(Press Release from the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s Central Oregon District)
Fire prevention restrictions on industrial forest operations within Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will be reduced beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14th. Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) for MH-4 and MH-1 will move to Level 2, and Additional Restrictions on industrial operations in the Prineville and John Day Units will be rescinded. MH-4 and MH-1 includes private, state, and municipal ownership protected by ODF in Hood River and Wasco counties, within the Central Oregon District (COD) boundary. Fire Season remains in effect, and all forest operations must follow fire season requirements for forest operations. Included in these requirements are fire watches, spark arresters, and fire tools; the full description of fire season requirements can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/documents/fire-season-requirements-for-industrial-operations.pdf.
MH-1 & MH-4 IFPL 2 (Limited Shutdown): The following activities are not permitted between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.:
· Power saws, except power saws may operate at loading sites;
· Feller-bunchers with rotary head saws;
· Cable yarding
· Blasting
· Welding, cutting, or grinding of metal
More information regarding fire season requirements for industrial operations is available at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/ifpl.html.
Favorable weather, including measurable precipitation and cooler temperatures, has moderated fire behavior over the last week allowing managers to reduce these restrictions. However, long term drought effects persist in vegetation and fuels across the District.
Regulated-Use Closure remains in effect for the Central Oregon District. Fires, including campfires, cooking fires, warming fires, and debris burning are not allowed within the district boundary.
For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
