Page last updated: Friday, October 14th, 2011
Due to recent rains and cooler weather, the Oregon
Dept. of Forestry declared the end of the 2011 Fire Season
as of Wed. Oct. 5th.
The fire danger level is “low” (green)
and all public regulated use and industrial fire precaution
level restrictions have been removed.
Woody debris pile and barrel burning are now allowed
on ODF-protected lands. However, open burning is regulated
for air quality. Before lighting your pile or burn barrel,
call the open burning advisory number for your county:
• Jackson County, 776-7007
Read full details below.
ALERT: On
Sept. 12th, the ODF issued the following:
HELP WANTED TO DETERMINE WILDFIRE CAUSES:
Eight fires in the O’Brien area [just west of Cave Junction]
have been determined to be of suspicious origin, and the Oregon
Dept. of Forestry and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
are seeking the public’s help in finding the person responsible
for setting these fires. The first fire of suspicious origin was
set June 13 and the most recent was 79-acre Lone Mtn. Fire, which
started Sept. 9.
Anyone who saw a person or vehicle in the area of a wildfire
in the O’Brien area this summer is encouraged to call (800)
452-7888, toll-free, to reach the Oregon Council Against Arson.
Information is confidential, so please leave your name, a phone
number, whether you have photographs or video of one or more of
these fires in the early stages, and a description of a vehicle
or person that you saw. ODF's Sept. 12th bulletin is available
below.
The ODF declared July 1st to be the official start
date of the 2011 fire season. The fire danger level was then “Moderate”
(blue) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) was 1 (one).
The fire danger level rose to High (yellow) on Monday, August 1st.
(The IFPL-Industrial Fire Precaution Level remained at Level 1 (one)
at that time.) A 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM curfew went into effect for
numerous regulated public activities, with other restrictions remaining
in effect "24/7."
On Wed. August 24th, due to increased drying in the forestlands,
the IFPL-Industrial Fire Protection Level was increased to Level
2 (two) with related restrictions (see below). On Friday, August
26th, the public posted Fire Danger Level officially increased to
EXTREME (RED), due to numerous regional spot fires sparked by lightning
and general increased dryness in the forestlands. The curfew hours
for publicly regulated activities have increased, beginning earlier,
and are now between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
On Mon. Sept. 5th, the ODF declared a 24-hour shut-down of all
power equipment including equipment use that was previously allowed
before 10:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m., beginning Tuesday Sept. 6th.
The IFPL was also increased to Level 3 beginning Tues. Sept. 6th,
with increased restrictions.
On Fri. Sept. 23rd, the ODF announced that the fire danger level
will drop back down to "HIGH" on Sunday, Sept. 25th, at
1:00 AM. Some restrictions will ease up starting on Sunday Sept.
25th for both publicly regulated activities and for Industrial activities,
including a public-use curfew on specified activities from 1 PM
to 8 PM.
On Mon. October 3rd, due to cooler weather and some rainfall, the
ODF lowered the public fire danger level to "Moderate"
(blue) and the IFPL (Industrial level) to 1 (One). Most public regulated
activity restrictions were also lifted, excepting the ban on all
public burning and campfires outside of designated campgrounds.
At 12 Noon on Wed. October 5th, following significant rain, the
ODF declared the end of the 2011 fire season. The fire danger level
is “low” (green) and all public regulated use and industrial
fire precaution level restrictions have been lifted; all open burning
is again allowed. The 2011 fire season lasted just over three months.
All ODF (Southwest Oregon district) fire danger declarations affect
state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands
in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Details:
ODF's Bulletin of Wednesday, October 5th, 2011, declaring the end
of the 2011 fire season:
October 5, 2011
11:00 a.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST OREGON NEWS MEDIA
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
SOUTHWEST OREGON DISTRICT
5286 Table Rock RD
Central Point, OR 97502
Contact: Ashley Du Brey, ODF public information officer, (541) 664-3328
Greg Alexander, ODF Medford Unit Forester, (541) 664-3328
Rick Dryer, ODF Grants Pass Unit Forester, (541) 474-3152
FIRE SEASON ENDS TODAY ON ODF-PROTECTED LANDS
Fire season ends at noon today, Oct. 5, on lands protected by the
Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District. The
season began July 1.
ODF’s Southwest Oregon District protects 1.8 million acres
of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands
in Jackson and Josephine counties.
The fire danger level is “low” (green) and all public
regulated use and industrial fire precaution level restrictions will
be removed by noon today.
Woody debris pile and barrel burning are now allowed on ODF-protected
lands. However, open burning is regulated for air quality. Before
lighting your pile or burn barrel, call the open burning advisory
number for your county:
• Jackson County, 776-7007
• Josephine County, 476-WOOD
Also, some cities do not allow open burning, and many rural fire
protection districts require a burning permit. Contact your local
structural fire service provider to obtain any necessary permits before
burning.
Information about fire season restrictions on ODF-protected
lands is available online at www.swofire.oregon.gov
and at ODF Southwest Oregon District unit offices:
• Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd: (541) 664-3328
• Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr: (541) 474-3152
###
Brian Ballou
Fire Prevention Specialist
Oregon Department of Forestry
Southwest Oregon District
Office: (541) 665-0662
bballou@odf.state.or.us
See ODF's Bulletin
of Wed. October 5th, 2011, declaring the end of the 2011
fire season (PDF format).
Sept. 12, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST OREGON NEWS MEDIA
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
SOUTHWEST OREGON DISTRICT
5286 Table Rock RD
Central Point, OR 97502
Contact: Brian Ballou, Oregon Dept. of Forestry, (541) 665-0662
HELP WANTED TO DETERMINE WILDFIRE CAUSES
Eight fires in the O’Brien area have been determined to
be of suspicious origin, and the Oregon Dept. of Forestry and
the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest are seeking the public’s
help in finding the person responsible for setting these fires.
The first fire of suspicious origin was set June 13 and the most
recent was 79-acre Lone Mtn. Fire, which started Sept. 9.
Anyone who saw a person or vehicle in the area of a wildfire
in the O’Brien area this summer is encouraged to call (800)
452-7888, toll-free, to reach the Oregon Council Against Arson.
Information is confidential, so please leave your name, a phone
number, whether you have photographs or video of one or more of
these fires in the early stages, and a description of a vehicle
or person that you saw.
###
Brian Ballou
Fire Prevention Specialist
Oregon Department of Forestry
Southwest Oregon District
Office: (541) 665-0662
bballou@odf.state.or.us
See ODF's
September 12th, 2011, Bulletin "Help Wanted
to Determine Wildfire Causes." (PDF format).
| MINIMUM
fire precaution levels and restrictions are assigned during
fire season by the ODF and affect all state, private, county,
city and BLM forestlands, including all wildland within the
Colestin fire district.
Please observe these restrictions and all regulations
voluntarily; any violators will be cited and may be prosecuted
if necessary.
If you have any questions or concerns about
regulated activity restrictions, you can contact
us, or contact the ODF
directly at (541) 664-3328. |
