Malheur National Forest increases fire danger and public use restrictions

By Mindy Gould on Thursday, July 28th, 2022 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories

John Day, Prairie City and Hines, Or (Released from US Department of Agriculture)-

As temperatures increase, so will the Fire Danger Rating and Public Use Restrictions on the Malheur National Forest.

On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at 12:01 a.m.,Emigrant Creek Ranger District upped the Fire Danger Rating to Very High, however Public Use Restrictions (PUR) remain in Phase B. When fire danger is very high, fires will start easily from most causes and will spread rapidly. Intensity can increase quickly after ignition and small fires can easily become large fires.

Effective Friday, July 29, 2022, at 12:01 a.m., Blue Mountain, and Prairie City Ranger Districts will enter Phase B of Public Use Restrictions (PUR) and Fire Danger will remain High.

PUR Phase B: Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 § 36 C.F.R. § Sec. 261.50(a) and (b), on all National Forest System Lands within the Malheur National Forest on the Emigrant Creek, Blue Mountain, and Prairie City Ranger Districts in the State of Oregon, the following acts are prohibited:

1) Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal briquette, or stove fire, except within the designated campfire ring at a designated recreation site which are listed in Exhibit A below. a. Wood burning stoves are permitted if they are equipped with a chimney, minimum 5-foot height, spark arresting screen consisting of ¼ mesh hardware cloth, and remove all flammable vegetation within a 5-foot radius, including overhanging material. b. Fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels and flammable vegetation is cleared a minimum 3 feet away from open flame.

2) Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

3) Operating a chainsaw between the hours of 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saw operators are required to have a shovel (8” wide, 26” length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz.) in their possession. A one-hour fire watch is required after saw operations cease.

4) Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order in accordance with U.S. Forest Service Standard 5100-1. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(j). a. Generators are allowed when located in a location cleared of flammable material in an area at least 10 feet in diameter and approved spark arrestor. 5) Possessing or use a vehicle off National Forest System roads. a. Except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway. 6) Possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.

7) Using an explosive.

EXHIBIT A Designated Recreation Sites

Emigrant Creek Ranger District-Buck Spring Campground, Delintment Campground, Emigrant Campground, Falls Campground, Idlewild Campground**, Joaquin Miller Campground, Rock Springs Camp (T.18S R. 32.E Sec24), Tip Top Campground, and Yellowjacket Campground**

Blue Mountain Ranger District-Billy Fields Campground, Deerhorn Campground, Deer Creek Guard Station, Dixie Campground, Fall Mountain Lookout, Head O’Boulder Forest Camp, Lower Camp Creek Campground, Magone Lake Campground, Middle Fork Campground, Murderers Creek Cabin, Oregon Mine Campground, Parish Cabin Campground, Starr Campground and Wickiup Campground.

Prairie City Ranger District-Big Creek Campground, Crescent Campground, Elk Creek Campground, Little Crane Campground, Murray Campground, North Fork Malheur Campground, Short Creek Guard Station, Pine Creek Horse Camp Campground, Strawberry Basin Campground, Lake Creek Youth Camp, Trout Farm Campground and Slide Creek Horse Camp.

For more information and all the latest forest news on the Malheur National Forest, please visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/malheur, follow U.S. Forest Service-Malheur National Forest on Facebook, and follow @MalheurNF on Twitter.

Billy Fields Campground Deerhorn Campground Deer Creek Guard Station Dixie Campground Fall Mountain Lookout Head O’Boulder Forest Camp Lower Camp Creek Campground Magone Lake Campground** Middle Fork Campground Murderers Creek Cabin Oregon Mine Campground Parish Cabin Campground Starr Campground Wickiup Campground

Emigrant Creek Ranger District Buck Spring Campground Delintment Campground Emigrant Campground Falls Campground Idlewild Campground** Joaquin Miller Campground Rock Springs Camp (T.18S R.32.E. Sec24) Tip Top Campground Yellowjacket Campground**