FIRE RESTRICTIONS: - Fire Season terminated 12:01 p.m. October 24, 2022.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS: - Regulated Closure Terminated for October 14, 2022
IFPL Map MH1 IFPL: - IFPL not in effect MH4 IFPL: - IFPL not in effect
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS: - Terminated for John Day and Prineville Units

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Rising fire danger prompts public use restrictions in Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District


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

·     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.

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.

Graham Fire in central Oregon moving toward 100-percent containment


News Release:  Graham Fire
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
12:00 a.m.
 
Contact:  Jamie Knight, Oregon Department of Forestry
                541-963-3168

SISTERS, Ore. - After three days with no additional perimeter growth and well-established control lines, the ODF Incident Management Team 2 will be handing management of the Graham Fire back to Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District Wednesday morning. Control lines around the fire’s perimeter have been mopped up to at least 50 feet. However, local residents may still expect to see occasional smoke from pockets of unburnt fuel smoldering in the fire’s interior. If residents see flames or spot fires they are advised to call 911. 

Resources on the fire today include: 10 hand crews, 2 helicopters, 17 engines, 1 dozer, 3 water tenders and 338 personnel. Containment is estimated at 85 percent

ODF’s Central Oregon District will continue the use of additional engines and fire crews to achieve 100-percent containment. The District strategies will include daily engine patrols and mop up operations.

The Graham Fire was a hot, fast-moving wildfire driven by strong winds, dry conditions and light flashy fuels that burned in the wildland urban interface in and around the community of Three Rivers. The firestorm torched trees and produced 100-foot flame lengths. Thanks to the responsive efforts of local wildland and structural suppression forces as well as prior defensible space created by local residents, the fire was held to 2,175 acres.

Team 2 fire managers leave behind an excellent safety record. More than 300 personnel were assigned to the incident and no injuries were reported.

Updated information for the Graham Fire is available on InciWeb-https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5855/

Friday, June 22, 2018

Graham Fire Update


News Release:  Graham Fire
Friday June 21, 2018
12:00 a.m.

Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry
                541-263-0661

The Graham Fire was reported Thursday afternoon, burning in brush, timber and grass south of the Metolius River arm of Lake Billy Chinook near Culver, Oregon.  The fire has burned private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry and Lake Chinook Fire and Rescue, as well as Bureau of Land Management ownership.  Aerial resources, including Single Engine Air Tankers and heavy air tankers assisted on-the-ground firefighters to slow the spread of the fire.  A Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) local Type 3 Team, Incident Commander Caldwell, assumed command of the fire at 11:00 p.m. Thursday night.  The fire is estimated to be approximately 2,000 acres at this time. Numerous lightning caused fires in Central Oregon, including three large fires spread firefighting resources thin today challenging firefighters in their suppression efforts.

Residents of the Three Rivers subdivision were under a level three (GO!) evacuation throughout most of the evening as extreme fire conditions and erratic winds quickly pushed the fire northeast threatening homes.  Reduced fire behavior has allowed Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins to reduce evacuation levels in some areas and allow residents to return to their homes.  Residents and the public are reminded not to cross roadblocks into evacuation areas.  Two local Central Oregon structural task forces worked to protect homes in the fire area assisting Lake Chinook Fire and Rescue.  Three additional structural task forces from Washington and Clackamas counties arrived on the fire this evening to continue work around the threatened homes.  Oregon State Fire Marshall’s Green Team, Incident Commander Hallman assumed command of the structural firefighting activities at midnight.  Some structures may have been damaged by the fire, but due to safety concerns firefighters have not been able to investigate all areas of the fire.

The COFMS Type 3 Team will manage the fire overnight, working to take advantage of cooler temperatures and increased moisture which will limit fire behavior.  Firefighters will flank the edge of the fire, building fireline to contain potential spread.  Warm temperatures are anticipated in the next few days along with the return of windy conditions which will continue to push firefighters working on the fire.  Additional resources are arriving to work the day shift Friday, including dozers, hand crews, helicopters, and fire engines. 

Updated information for the Graham Fire is available on InciWeb-https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5855/