FIRE DANGER LEVEL CLIMBS TO EXTREME
A long period of temperatures hovering around 100 degrees has cooked southwest Oregon vegetation into a tinder-dry condition. In response, the Oregon Department of Forestry's Southwest Oregon District is raising the fire danger level to "extreme" (red) at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 19.
The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will remain at Level 2 (two).
The primary difference between current fire prevention regulations and those taking effect tomorrow affects power-driven equipment, such as chain saws and mowers. Power-driven equipment will be required to shut down at 10:00 a.m. instead of 1:00 p.m. And users of other power-driven, spark-emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, must also shut down at 10:00 a.m. Equipment use may resume after 8:00 p.m. In all cases, a fire watch of at least one hour should take place after the equipment is shut down.
Also, there is a fire prevention regulation being added prohibiting the use of sky lanterns on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Here are the details of the adjusted and new regulations taking effect today:
Chain saw use will be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Chain saw use will be permitted at all other hours, if the following fire fighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one axe, one shovel, and one 8-ounce or larger fire extinguisher. In addition, a fire watch will be required at least one hour following the use of each saw.
The cutting, grinding and welding of metal will be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. These activities will be permitted during other hours if conducted in a cleared area and if a water supply is present.
The mowing of dry or dead grass with power-driven equipment will be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. This will not apply to the mowing of green lawns, or the use of equipment for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
The operation of any other spark-emitting machinery not specifically mentioned above will be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The use of sky lanterns will be prohibited.
The following fire prevention regulations are currently in effect and will remain in effect until the fire danger level drops significantly:
Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.
Debris burning is prohibited.
Burn barrel use is prohibited.
Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in approved fire rings at designated campgrounds. In other locations, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
Use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads or for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
Use of fireworks is prohibited.
Any electric fence controller in use shall be: 1) Listed be a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services; and 2) Operated in compliance with manufacturer's instructions
Use of exploding targets is prohibited.
Use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base is prohibited.
For further information about fire restrictions in other parts of the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River, contact the Smullin Visitor Center located at the Rand National Historic Site or your local Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest office.
Information about fire season restrictions on ODF-protected lands is available online at www.swofire.com and at ODF Southwest Oregon District unit offices.
