[Prineville, Ore.]
Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will
implement Fire Season Monday June 10, 2019 at 12:01 a.m. The Central Oregon District includes
approximately 2.3 million acres of private, state, and municipally owned
forestland throughout central Oregon. Fire
Season declaration heightens awareness of increasing hazardous fuel conditions
and fire growth potential in wildland fuels.
“Late May rain really helped reduce the fire risk in our fuels but the
recent warming trend is quickly drying fuels again and with limited moisture in
the forecast it is unlikely that the risk will drop again.” states Rob Pentzer,
District Forester for Central Oregon. Fire season in the District typically starts
early to mid-June based on current conditions and forecasted weather. In 2018 June 1st marked the start
of fire season.
With the implementation of fire season, logging and
other industrial operations must meet requirements for fire prevention, such as
fire tools, water supply, and watchman service when those operations are
occurring on lands protected by ODF. In
addition to fire season restrictions, Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1 (IFPL)
will be in effect for lands protected by ODF in Hood River and Wasco
counties. Details for fire season and
IFPL requirements are available at www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/pages/FirePrevention.aspx,
or contact your local Department of Forestry office for more information.
Campfires are currently still allowed, but should be
DEAD OUT! and cool to the touch when you leave.
The use of tracer ammunition and exploding targets is prohibited during
fire season. Sky lanterns and other
luminaries are prohibited at all times in Oregon.
Year to date for 2019 there have been fourteen human caused
fires burning more than fifteen acres within the District. Nine of these fires are linked to escape
debris burns. Landowners who burned
earlier this winter or spring should check their burn piles and verify there is
no longer heat in the burned area. Burn
barrels are allowed by permit in The Dalles Unit (Wasco and Hood River counties)
until 11:00 a.m. through June 30th. However open burning is no longer permitted
across the District.
For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon
District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
