Fire Season Declared
for ODF’s Central Oregon District:
Additional Wildfire Prevention Restrictions to be Implemented
[Prineville, Ore.] The Dalles
and John Day units of Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon
District will enter fire season at 12:01 a.m., June 27, 2022. This declaration includes private and non-federal
public lands in Hood River, Wasco, Grant, Wheeler, Gilliam, Harney, and Morrow counties
protected by ODF; the Prineville-Sisters Unit (Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes
counties) declared fire season June 13, 2022.
Activities prohibited during fire season include
smoking in forest operation areas, blasting without a permit, use of exploding
targets and tracer ammunition. Backyard
debris burning, including burn barrels are prohibited, except in Hood River
County where the Burn Ban will go into effect on July 1, 2022. In addition to these restrictions forest
operations are required to follow the following prevention guidelines:
· firefighting tools and fire extinguishers on-site
· power saws must be equipped with a spark arrester and
additional restrictions must be followed during use
· vehicles used in the operation must have a
firefighting tool and fire extinguisher
· fire truck/water wagon on site
· fire watch
A full description of all Fire Season restrictions is
available at www.oregon.gov/odf. These
guidelines are intended to reduce the risk of fire ignition, quickly detect
fires, and allow for a swift suppression response.
In addition to the on-set of Fire Season in The Dalles
Unit, MH-4 (west of Hwy 35 in Hood River County) and MH-1 (east of Hwy 35 in
Hood River and Wasco counties) will move into Industrial Fire Precaution Level
1. Included in these restrictions is the
use of fire or power-driven machinery in any forest operation unless in
compliance with all fire prevention requirements (ORS Chapter 477 and OAR
Chapter 629 Divisions 41 to 43). A one-hour
fire watch is required after all forest operations, unless waived.
Recent cool, moist weather is transitioning to warmer
temperatures with limited potential for precipitation in the forecast. This seasonal weather pattern, combined with
existing long-term drought conditions increases the risk of rapid fire spread. The Central Oregon District will implement Regulated-Use
Closure, intended to reduce potential wildfire starts by restricting activities
associated with fire ignitions.
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. July 1, 2022, the following
restrictions will be in effect:
· 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.
The use of portable appliances such as camp stoves and fire pits using
liquified or bottled fuels are allowed in clear areas free of flammable
vegetation. The following is required where open fires and appliances are
allowed; one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2 ½ pound fire extinguisher.
· 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.
· Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is prohibited
between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. At all other times the area is to
be cleared of flammable vegetation and the following fire equipment is
required: one axe, one shovel, and one operational 2 ½ pound or larger fire
extinguisher in good working order.
· 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.
· 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.
· 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 fireworks is prohibited.
· Blasting 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.
Additional restrictions, a map, and the official
proclamation can be found at www.Oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx.
For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon
District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.