[Prineville, Ore.] The Prineville-Sisters
Unit of Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will enter
fire season at 12:01 a.m., June 13, 2022.
Lands protected by ODF in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties are
affected by this declaration, this includes private and non-federal public
lands. ODF protected lands in The Dalles
and John Day units are not included at this time.
“We are monitoring conditions closely across the other
units of the Central Oregon District so we can implement Fire Season and other restrictions
to prevent wildfires and protect natural resources,” explains Gordon Foster,
Assistant District Forester.
Implementation of Fire Season is determined by
monitoring fuel conditions, fire behavior, long term weather forecasts, and
fire activity in the area. Underlying long term drought conditions in central
Oregon have not been mitigated by recent rainstorms. Light fuels quickly dry in windy and warm conditions,
increasing the rapid spread of fire.
Activities prohibited during fires 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. 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.
Counties and local fire departments may have
additional restrictions in place. Check
restrictions in your local area to help prevent wildfires.
For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon
District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.