The Central Oregon
District off the Oregon Department of Forestry is implementing Regulated-Use
Closure effective at 12:01 a.m., Friday June 29, 2018. These lands include private, municipal and
state lands protected by the Central Oregon District. “Recent fire activity has
shown a significant potential for rapid fire growth,” says Rob Pentzer,
Assistant District Forester. “We are
looking to reduce potential fire starts from high risk activities.” The public use restrictions included in the
Regulated-Use Closure are intended to limit preventable ignitions, allowing
firefighters to focus on fires started by lightning.
Activities below are restricted by this
closure. Additional restrictions and the
full proclamation can be accessed at www.Oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx
of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling in a
motorized vehicle, except on federal and state highways, county roads and driveways:
one shovel and one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire
extinguisher, except all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles which must be
equipped with an approved spark arrestor in good working condition.
is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.
prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming
fires, except in designated areas.
use is prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Chainsaw use is permitted at all other hours,
if the following firefighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one
axe, one shovel, and one operational 8 ounce or larger fire extinguisher. In addition, a fire watch is required at
least one hour following the use of each saw.
of dried grass with power driven equipment is prohibited, between the hours of
1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., except for the commercial culture and harvest of
agricultural crops.
vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except
on improved roads and except for vehicle use by a landowner and employees of
the landowner upon their own land while conducting activities associated with
their livelihood.
fireworks and blasting is prohibited.
Beginning July 1, 2018 open burning
including burn barrels in Hood River and Wasco counties will be
prohibited.
The public is also reminded that the use of
tracer ammunition or exploding targets is illegal within the District during
fire season. As of January 1, 2017 sky
lanterns and other luminaries are prohibited in Oregon.
For additional
information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and
unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.