[PRINEVILLE, Ore.]
Fire Season for Oregon Department of Forestry’s Prineville and The
Dalles units in the Central Oregon District will end at 12:01 a.m. Saturday October
17, 2020. Industrial Fire Precautions in
MH-1 and MH-4 of The Dalles Unit are also terminated. Fuel conditions do not pose a significant
risk of fire ignition and rapid spread in these areas.
Gordon Foster, Prineville Unit Forester, reminds the
public, “Although conditions have minimized the threat of fire spread, people
should take caution and monitor conditions prior to conducting any open
burning”.
The John Day Unit will remain in Fire Season until
additional moisture has further mitigated fire hazards. Lands within the John Day Unit include
portions of Grant, Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam, Malhuer, and Umatilla counties. Open burning is not allowed at this time in
the John Day Unit, including yard debris.
Burn permits for logging slash and debris will not be
issued in The Dalles or Prineville units until additional precipitation is
received. Yard debris, burn barrels, and
other open burning should follow local and county fire restrictions. Safe burning practices include clearing
flammable debris from the burn pile or burn area, having a water source nearby,
having tools such as a shovel handy while burning, not burning in windy
conditions, and never leave a fire unattended.
Continue to check the fire area for residual heat in the days after burning
to ensure embers do not rekindle and spread to nearby fuels.
Since Fire Season began in the Central Oregon District
on June 1st firefighters have responded to 62 lightning fires burning 11,300
acres and 52 human caused fires burning 1,643 acres.
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.