Malheur National Forest increases public and industrial fire restrictions

By on Thursday, July 20th, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY & HINES, OR – (Press Release from the Malheur National Forest)

Effective 12:01 am, Friday, July 21, 2023, all districts of the Malheur National Forest (Blue Mountain, Prairie City, and Emigrant Creek Ranger Districts) will implement Phase B of Public Use Restrictions and move to an Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) of II. These changes are due to increasing temperatures and drier fuels in the forest. The Fire Danger Rating level will remain at High for all districts.

Under Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) II, known as partial hootowl, the following may operate only between the hours of 8 pm and 1 pm local time: 

  • power saws except at loading sites;
  • cable yarding;
  • blasting;
  • welding or cutting of metal.

Under Phase B of Public Use Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System Lands within the Malheur National Forest, in the state of Oregon: 

  1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal briquette or stove fire, except within a designated recreation site listed in Exhibit B (below). 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a).
  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. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(d).
  3. Operating a chainsaw between the hours of 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(h). 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). 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. Possess or use a vehicle off National Forest System roads. 36 C.F.R. § 261.56. Except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway.

EXHIBIT B

DESIGNATED RECREATION SITES

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
  • 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
  • Slide Creek Horse Camp
  • Strawberry Basin Campground
  • Lake Creek Youth Camp
  • Trout Farm Campground

EMIGRANT CREEK RANGER DISTRICT

  • Buck Springs Campground
  • Delintment Campground
  • Emigrant Campground
  • Falls Campground
  • Idlewild Campground
  • Joaquin Miller Campground
  • Rock Springs Camp
  • Tip Top Campground
  • Yellow Jacket Lake Campground

For additional information about Fire Danger, Public Use Restrictions, and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, visit www.fs.usda.gov/malheur or call our office at 541-575-3000. 

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Elkhorn Media Group