Wallowa Whitman National Forest Increases Fire Danger Rating to High
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, July 13th, 2023 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
EASTERN OREGON – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) Effective 12:01 a.m. on July 14, 2023, the fire danger rating level across the all Wallowa-Whitman National Forest fire danger rating areas (FDRA’s) will be increased to “High”.
Affected FDRA’s include: Juniper-Sagebrush, Canyon Grasslands, Western Forested, Southern Blues, Central Blues, and Northern Blues. To view a map of the affected areas, go to the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center, and can be located at http://bmidc.org/fdra-map.shtml
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Fire management officials review the local fuels conditions, current and predicted weather and fire danger indices on a weekly basis and coordinate with the surrounding Forests to determine the Fire Danger Rating level.
In addition to the increase in Fire Danger Rating Level, the WWNF will also be moving into Phase A-Public Use Restrictions, explains Deputy Fire Staff Officer Joel McCraw.
“This initial phase of public use restrictions aids in preventing fires started by some of the more typical causes such as smoking, off road travel and internal combustion engine operation during the hottest part of the day,” said McCraw.
The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will not be increased at this time, however, forest visitors are urged to be cautious of the hot and dry conditions of the Forest as well as the predicted high temperatures for the coming weekend.
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest encourages everyone to Recreate Responsibly on Forest lands. For updates to the FDR,IFPL and PURs, check out our website for the latest details (www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman).
State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast Oregon follow separate restrictions. For more information, contact your local ODF office or visit the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center website at http://www.bmidc.org.
