ODF Central Oregon District Implements Additional Restrictions for Industrial Operations

[Prineville, Ore.]  Additional restrictions for industrial forest operations in Oregon Department of Forestry’s Prineville and John Day Units will begin at 12:01 a.m. on June 30, 2021.  These restrictions are intended to reduce potential fire ignitions resulting from logging and other forest operations. 

“We are seeing record fuel conditions daily,” says Prineville Unit Forester Gordon Foster.  “Right now, with the current fuel conditions and temperatures, the probability of a spark or ember igniting a wildland fire is 90-100 percent”.  In addition to being a receptive fuel bed for ignition, fire will rapidly spread through both live and dead vegetation and fuels.

REQUIRED SHUT DOWN:   Except at landings, the use of mechanized harvesters with a high-speed saw, chainsaws, tracked felling or skidding equipment, slash busting equipment and cable yarding systems are prohibited between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time.

The requirements listed above are in addition to the normal fire season requirements as listed in “A Guide to Legal Requirements for Preventing and Controlling Fires in Operations On and Near Forestland in Oregon”, such as spark arresters, water supply, tools, fire extinguishers and watchman service.

Operators should refer to www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/Documents/fire-season-requirements-for-industrial-operations.pdf for information specific to industrial operations during fire season, or call their local ODF Office. 

Human caused fires for 2021 within ODF’s Central Oregon District are almost double the ten-year-average for fire starts year-to-date.  Thirty-nine human caused fires have burned 824 acres of ODF protected lands already this year.  On average the District responds to 136 fires each year; 66 lightning starts and 70 human ignitions.    

For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

 Firefighters Catch Multiple Starts Along I-84

[The Dalles, Ore.]  Firefighters responded to three fires Friday morning burning adjacent to Interstate 84 near Rowena, while working to put these fires out two additional starts were discovered along the freeway.  These fires, named the Milepost 78 Fire, burned grass, brush and timber primarily within Mayer State Park protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).  The three larger fires burned approximately seven acres between I-84 and the railroad tracks, the other two fires were limited to a “spot”.  When resources arrived the fire was running, spotting and torching with 8-10 foot flame lengths at the head of the fire.  This fire behavior was mitigated by numerous water drops from Fire Boss aircraft.  Moderating fire behavior with the water drops allowed firefighters on the ground to engage the fire and begin fire line construction.

In addition to the two Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Boss aircraft, a Type 1 helicopter on loan from the S-503 Fire, and an air attack platform from Central Oregon Fire Management Services engaged in the fire suppression effort.   The fire was managed in Unified Command between Oregon Department of Forestry and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue. 

“The Fire Bosses were critical for keeping the fires north of the highway and protecting numerous structures in Rowena,” says Rick Fletcher, Incident Commander for ODF.

Tonight, the fire is 20% contained with fire line nearly complete around the perimeter.  Overnight Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue will provide patrols to ensure the fire does not move outside the fire line.  Tomorrow two engines, one crew, one faller, and overhead will be working to secure the fire.    

Evacuation information is available from the Wasco County Sheriff on their facebook page: www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff.  One westbound lane of the freeway remains closed due to firefighting activity.  Drivers should use caution in the area due to heavy congestion.

Two contract hand crews, an ODF crew, engines and overhead from Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, BLM Prineville, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and Oregon Department of Transportation were involved in suppression of the fire and ensuring public safety.  Fire departments across the Columbia Gorge also provided resources to the fire fighting effort, working to protect their community.  These departments include Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Dufur, Mosier, Dallesport, Hood River, Cascade Locks, Westside, Wy’East, and Parkdale.

The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.

Regulated-Use Closure is in effect for the Oregon Department of Forestry.  Mowing of dried grass and chainsaw use is restricted between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.  Additional restrictions can be found at www.odfcentraloregon.com. 

Regulated-Use Closure Implemented to Reduce Human Caused Wildfires

[Prineville, Ore.]  Wildfires resulting from human activities continue to plague firefighters in Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District.  In an effort to reduce these fires the District will implement a 10 a.m. Regulated-Use Closure which restricts high risk activities linked to wildfire starts.  Beginning at 12:01 a.m. June 24, 2021, the following restrictions will be in effect:

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 10:00 a.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 dried grass with power driven equipment is prohibited, between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., except for the commercial culture/harvest of agricultural crops.
• Cutting, grinding & welding of metal is prohibited between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m
• 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.

Additional restrictions, a map, and the official proclamation can be found at www.Oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx. 

Due to limited spring moisture live and dead wildland fuels are burning intensely and rapid fire spread is occurring with ignitions across the District.  “We are seeing fire behavior similar to what is typical in July or even August,” says District Forester Mike Shaw.  “Wildand fuels are incredibly dry, and the moisture from last week’s precipitation has already dried out of the finer fuels, and never penetrated the larger ones.”  Implementation of Regulated-Use Closure with a 10 a.m. shut-down should be indicative to the public the severe situation and risk of wildfires earlier than what is typical during wildfire season in Central Oregon.

Fire Season Regulations

The following acts are prohibited during fire season in accordance with ORS 477.510 and ORS 477.512:

• Smoking while working in or traveling through any operation area.
• The use of fuse and caps for blasting, unless approval is granted by the forester.
• The discharge of an exploding target inside the district or within one-eighth mile of the district.
• The discharge of tracer ammunition on land that is within the district or within one-eighth mile of the district, or when discharged, crosses above land that is within the district or within one-eighth mile of the district.

Operators should refer to www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/Documents/fire-season-requirements-for-industrial-operations.pdf for information specific to industrial operations during fire season, or call their local ODF Office.

John Day Unit—Grant, Wheeler, Morrow, Harney, & Gilliam Counties (541)575-1139

• Burning of logging slash and larger debris piles is not currently allowed in the John Day Unit.  
• Burning yard debris and burn barrels is no longer permitted on lands protected by ODF.

Prineville Unit-Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes Counties (541)447-5658

• Burning of logging slash is not allowed at this time.  
• Contact the local fire departments to obtain burn permits for burning yard debris where allowed.  

The Dalles Unit-Wasco and Hood River Counties (541)296-4626

• IFPL 3 in effect for MH-1(east of Hwy 35 in Hood River and Wasco counties) and IFPL 2 in effect for MH-4 (west of Hwy 35 in Hood River County)
• Burn ban in effect for Hood River and Wasco counties.

For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Restrictions for Industrial Operations Increase With Rise in Wildfire Risk

[THE DALLES, Ore.]  Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL) for Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands in Hood River and Wasco counties (MH-1 and MH-4) will increase June 23, 2021, at 12:01 a.m.  Fire behavior in recent days combined with the forecast of hot, dry weather has prompted fire managers to implement further restrictions to reduce the potential of wildfire ignition from forest operations.

IFPL 3 will be in effect for MH-1, these lands are located east of Oregon Highway 35 in Hood River and Wasco counties.  IFPL 3 impacts cable yarding operations as well as restricts operation of power saws, (except power saws may operate at loading sites), feller-bunchers with rotary head saws, cable yarding, blasting, and the welding, cutting, or grinding of metal between the hours of 1 p.m and 8 p.m.

During IFPL the following are permitted to operate between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. where mechanized equipment capable of constructing fire line is immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start: Ground-based operations (tractor/skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations); Power saws on ground-based operations; Rotary head saw feller-bunchers with a continuous Firewatch; Non-rotary head saw feller-bunchers; Tethered logging - winch-assisted, cable-assisted, traction-assisted, etc. systems, which enable ground-based timber harvesting machines to operate on steep slopes.

Lands in MH-4, located west of Oregon Highway 35 in Hood River County will be in IFPL 2.  IFPL 2 restricts the use of power saws, (except power saws may operate at loading sites), feller-bunchers with rotary head saws, cable yarding, blasting, and the welding, cutting, or grinding of metal between the hours of 1 p.m and 8 p.m.

More information regarding fire season requirements for industrial operations is available at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/ifpl.html, or contact The Dalles Office at 541-296-4626.

On June 24, 2021, a regulated-use closure will go into effect for activities such as mowing of dry grass, chainsaw use, and open fire restrictions.  The closure will also require those traveling on forest roads to carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher (or one gallon of water).  Visit www.odfcentraloregon.com for full details.  The public is asked to be cautious of any actions which could cause a wildfire.

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.