Regulated-Use Closure in Effect for ODF’s Central Oregon District

June 29, 2020

[Prineville, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central
Oregon District will enter Regulated-Use Closure beginning at 12:01 a.m. July
1, 2020.  The closure is intended to
restrict activities that could spark fires in dry wildland fuels. Lands
included in this closure include private, municipal and state owned lands
protected by the Central Oregon District, in the following counties:  Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Grant, Wheeler,
Morrow, Gilliam, Hood River, Lake, Harney, Umatilla, and Wasco.
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
·       
Possession
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.
·       
Smoking
is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.
·       
Open fires are
prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming
fires, except in designated areas.
·       
Chainsaw
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.
·       
Mowing
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.
·       
Use of motor
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.
·       
The use of
fireworks and blasting is prohibited.
Fire season in the Central Oregon District began June
1st.  Year-to-date ODF’s
Central Oregon District has had thirty-five fires, ten lightning starts and
twenty-five human caused fires, for a total of thirty-three acres burned.  The ten year average for this time period is
ten lightning fires and twenty-two human starts, burning 1,164 acres.  Recent precipitation has helped to keep fires
small, however the weather is transitioning into warm dry summer conditions.
ODF’s Central Oregon District continues to serve
landowners and the public as an essential service for Oregonians.  Please call or email to talk with our staff
or schedule an appointment.  For
additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact
information and unit offices, please visit
www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Archives

Skip to content