2020 FIRE SEASON SUMMARY:  

Fire Season began May 1st. The Fire Danger Level rose to Moderate on Mon. June 29th. The fire danger level increased to High on Fri. July 17th. The fire danger level increased again to Extreme on Fri. July 31st. On October 9th, the fire danger was lowered to HIGH, and the IFPL was lowered to Level 2 (two). On Oct. 12th, the fire danger was again lowered, to Moderate (blue), and the IFPL was lowered to Level 1 (one). Fire season was declared over on Fri., Nov. 6th.


The fire season chronology follows, listing items from latest (top) to earliest; pre-season news, if any, is below. NOTE: Not all regional fire news is included here. For more, see:

The Oregon Department of Forestry's sites at:
www.swofire.com
, www.swofire.oregon.gov, wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/,
and their Fire Stats, Info & Updates page at www.oregon.gov/odf/Pages/fire/fire.aspx#Fire_Stats,_Info_&_Updates_.

The CAL-FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) website at: http://www.fire.ca.gov/, which has links to a listing of fire incidents.



Most recent:

 

The 2020 fire season ended, declared by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry, effective as of 9 am Friday, November 6th. All fire season restrictions were lifted.

Here is the text of ODF's news release:


November 6, 2020

Oregon Department of Forestry   -   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Southwest Oregon District
5286 Table Rock Road
Central Point, OR  97502

Contact: Natalie Weber, Public Information Officer
(541) [not published, at ODF's request] or (541) 664-3328


Fire season ends today, but fire prevention continues

After 190 days, fire season ends today, Friday, November 6, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District. Lands affected by this declaration include state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties totaling 1.8 million acres.

This marks the second longest fire season on record on the Southwest Oregon District, only nine days fewer than the longest recorded season from 1988. The preliminary totals for the season show ODF firefighters tackling 220 wildland fires, totaling roughly 40,494 acres. This total fire count does not even include the number of alarms firefighters responded to related to fire restriction violations, assisting our local partners, and smoke chases throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties; crews responded to more than 1,400 calls for service that did not result in fire suppression.

The season began with dry conditions on May 1, 2020, prompting an earlier start than most years. However, it wasn’t until late July that the first large fire of the season broke out on the district. The Worthington fire was first reported on July 30, burning 761 acres five miles northeast of Eagle Point. It was followed by the Grizzly Creek fire a mile north of Howard Prairie Lake; that fire was caught at 325 acres.

Up until September, these were the largest fires on the district, and less than 1,000 acres had been burned by 162 fires. September 8, 2020 presented firefighters and residents of the Rogue Valley alike with an unprecedented fire event. The Almeda, South Obenchain and Slater fires all broke out on the same day, fueled by an east wind event typically only experienced once every 20 years. The loss of lives, homes and structures will forever be remembered by fire crews.

ODF as an organization was also challenged in a different way this fire season; COVID-19 presented risks to our firefighters and general staff that created an added hurdle to an already difficult and often stressful time. Safety is always a top priority in the agency, and preventative measures were added to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the district and at fire camps. By following CDC guidelines, including social distancing, wearing masks and sanitizing often, cases were kept at a minimum.

According to the Northwest Coordinating Center, there were seven confirmed positive cases of COVID among firefighting resources assigned to Type 1 or Type 2 incidents in the Northwest Region (Oregon and Washington) this fire season. At the peak of the recent firefighting efforts, there were nearly 8,000 people assigned to fires in the region.

Despite the difficulties encountered this year, overall, 97-percent of all ODF Southwest fires were held at ten acres or less. We accredit this not only to our aggressive initial attack and well-trained team, but our countless partners throughout our region that have helped to make this season a success.

The termination of fire season removes fire prevention regulations on equipment use and the use of fire for debris burning. This applies to the public and industrial operations on forestlands. However, many
structural fire agencies require permits for debris burning; please check with your local fire department to obtain any necessary permits before burning.

While fire season is over, fire prevention must continue. Please be vigilant while burning debris, making sure that a burn pile is never left unattended. Also, please use caution while using machinery that
could produce a spark. Fall weather in Southern Oregon can vary greatly.

While fire season has officially come to a close, we are still here to help. Fire prevention tips and additional information is available online at www.swofire.com, our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest.

Thank you,

Natalie Weber
Public Information Officer
Oregon Department of Forestry
Southwest Oregon District
Cell | [not published, at ODF's request]

www.swofire.com
Facebook | @ODFSouthwest
Twitter | @SWOfire

###

 


 

 

ODF's Mon. 10-12-20 news release lowering the fire danger level to Moderate:


October 12, 2020


Oregon Department of Forestry     -       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Southwest Oregon District
5286 Table Rock Road
Central Point, OR  97502

Contact: Natalie Weber, Public Information Officer
(541) 664-3328

Fire Danger and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels decrease on lands protected by ODF Southwest Oregon District

A sudden shift in the weather is prompting a decrease in the fire danger level and industrial fire precaution level (IFPL) on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District. While fuels in the region have remained extremely dry into early fall, rain and cooler temperatures over weekend have made it possible to ease-off on some additional fire prevention regulations.

Effective immediately, the fire danger level will be lowered to “moderate” (blue) and the IFPL will decrease to one (1) in Jackson and Josephine counties. The following fire prevention regulations which will remain in effect, include:

No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.

Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.

No fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of forestlands.

Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. This includes charcoal, cooking and warming fires. (Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed at all times.)

Motorized vehicles are allowed only on improved roads; one shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling.

Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations.

Chain saws may not be used between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. during moderate fire danger. During hours outside of this time frame, chain saws may be used but require that the operator have one shovel and one 8-oz or larger fire extinguisher at the work site. A fire watch is also required for one (1) hour after each chainsaw use.

Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is not allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. during moderate fire danger. These activities must be conducted in a cleared area that has a charged garden hose or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher available.

The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. during moderate fire danger. This restriction does not include mowing of green lawns, or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine-use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. during moderate fire danger. These activities must be conducted in a cleared area that has a charged garden hose or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher available.

Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation.

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season public restrictions, please call the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:

Medford Unit, (541) 664-3328
Grants Pass Unit, (541) 474-3152

Fire season information is also available online at our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest and our website: www.swofire.com.

Thank you,

Natalie Weber
Public Information Officer
Oregon Department of Forestry
Southwest Oregon District

www.swofire.com
Facebook | @ODFSouthwest
Twitter | @SWOfire

 


 

 

The text of ODF's 10/9/20 news release announcing the lowering of the fire danger level to HIGH follows:


October 9, 2020

Oregon Department of Forestry   -     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Southwest Oregon District
5286 Table Rock Road
Central Point, OR  97502
Contact: Natalie Weber, Public Information Officer
(541) 664-3328

Effective immediately: changing weather conditions prompts fire danger level decrease to “High”

A combination of cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and the potential for rain across southwest Oregon have made it possible to ease-off on some fire prevention regulations. Effective immediately, the fire danger level on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties has decreased to “high” (yellow) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level has been lowered to level two (II).

These regulations affect 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.

Restrictions on the public use of chain saws, brush cutters and other power-driven or spark-emitting machinery are being slightly relaxed, allowing the use of equipment until 10:00 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Other fire prevention regulations which will remain in effect include:

No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.

Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.

No fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of forestlands.

Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. This includes charcoal, cooking and warming fires. (Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed at all times.)

Motorized vehicles are allowed only on improved roads; one shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling.

Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations.

Chain saws may not be used between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. During hours outside of this time frame, chain saws may be used but require that the operator have one shovel and one 8-oz or larger fire extinguisher at the work site. A fire watch is also required for one hour after each chainsaw use.

Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. These activities will be allowed during hours outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site.

The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. This restriction does not include mowing of green lawns, or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine-use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. Use of any spark-emitting internal combustion engine is allowed outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site.

Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation.

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season public restrictions, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:

Medford Unit, (541) 664-3328
Grants Pass Unit, (541) 474-3152

Fire season information is also available online at our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest and our website: www.swofire.com.

Thank you,

Natalie Weber
Public Information Officer
Oregon Department of Forestry
Southwest Oregon District

www.swofire.com
Facebook | @ODFSouthwest
Twitter | @SWOfire

 


 


Grizzly Creek Fire UPDATE - from the ODF, Mon. 9/7, 10:57 am:

Grizzly Creek Fire Update 9.07.2020

"ROGUE VALLEY, ORE. – At 6 a.m. September 5, 2020, the Oregon Department of Forestry – Southwest Oregon District (ODFSWO) completed a dozer line around the fire. The line has been reinforced with hose lines to aid in containment efforts, which is currently at 20%. ODFSWO has held the fire at its existing footprint, 340 acres."

The cause remains "under investigation."


Grizzly Creek Fire UPDATE - from the ODF, Sun. 9/6, 4:56 pm:

Evacuations Orders Downgraded for Residents near the Grizzly Creek Fire

"JACKSON COUNTY, ORE. – The residents closest to the Grizzly Creek Fire, near the Dead Indian Memorial Rd. and Keno Access Rd. junction, were evacuated on Friday per Evacuation Level Three (3) “GO” protocols. The Search and Rescue Division of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office personally notified residents at their property of the level three (3) evacuation orders.

"The Oregon Department of Forestry – Southwest Oregon District (ODF- SWO) and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office have jointly determined to downgrade from a level three (3) “GO” evacuation to a level two (2) “Be Set” evacuation for the ten (10) homes near the junction. This decision comes after ODF-SWO’s successful completion of a line. ODF-SWO is also expected to reach 15% containment before night operations begin.

"Evacuation Level Two (2) is still in effect for resorts and campgrounds around the Howard Prairie Lake area."


Grizzly Creek Fire Update 9.05.2020
- from ODF, Sat. 6:01 pm:

Fire Held at 340 Acres

"ROGUE VALLEY, ORE. – At 6 a.m. this morning, the Oregon Department of Forestry – Southwest Oregon District (ODFSWO) completed a dozer line around the fire. The line has been reinforced with hose lines to aid in containment efforts. The Day Shift team, consisting of approximately 150 personnel, seven (7) crews, nine (9) engines, four (4) dozers, five (5) water tenders, and 7 helicopters have held the fire at 340 acres.

"Smoke conditions in the Southwest Oregon region is expected to intensify until 8 p.m. tonight. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued an Air Quality Advisory, which will be in effect until 5 a.m. Sunday (September 6, 2020). Those who are unusually sensitive to air pollutions may be effected and are advised to limit outdoor activities." 

Containment is at 7%. Evacuation Level remains at Level 2 (Be Set). The cause is still under investigation.


The Medford Mail Tribune has also been covering the Grizzly Creek Fire - Sat. 9/5:

"Owing to the efforts of more than 200 people and more than 24,000 gallons of retardant, a wildfire that spread rapidly near Ashland Friday afternoon is now lined and under control. [. . .]

"According to the National Weather Service in Medford, smoke from the Grizzly Creek fire isn’t significantly contributing to Jackson County’s air quality advisory, because winds are largely pushing smoke from that fire northeast and out of the Rogue Valley.

"Instead, Jackson County’s air quality advisory stems from the Red Salmon Complex wildfire burning near Trinity and Humboldt counties in Northern California [. . .]"

https://mailtribune.com/news/top-stories/grizzly-creek-fire-wrangled-overnight


PREVIOUS NEWS RELEASE on the Grizzly Creek Fire - from ODF, Fri. 9/4, 8:38 pm:
 

"ROGUE VALLEY, ORE. –  At approximately 2:25pm the Oregon Department of Forestry – Southwest Oregon District (ODF-SWO) detected smoke one (1) mile North of Howard Prairie Lake. ODF-SWO has responded with an aggressive initial attack: eight (8) helicopters, three (3) air tankers, six (6) engines, two (2) water tenders, two (2) dozers, and three (3) hand crews. The fire is expected to be 300-350 acres and ten (10) structures are threatened by the fire. The fire is 60% lined and is being reinforced with crews and hoses.

"ODF-SWO has assembled 150 personnel for night operations: seven dozers (7), six (6) engines, five (5) hand crews, and four (4) water tenders. Night operations will establish a wet line and begin containment.

"Evacuations: Level 2 (Be Set) evacuations have been placed in the Howard Prairie Lake region, including campgrounds/resorts. Campers have been notified and those traveling to the area have been informed to stay away and make new travel arrangements.

"Road closures: Dead Indian Memorial Road is closed to eastbound traffic at the intersection of Hyatt Prairie Road near milepost 17. Dead Indian Memorial Road and Forest Service Road 37 is closed to all westbound traffic."

The cause is currently under investigation. For more, see www.swofire.com.

 



 

The text of Oregon Dept. of Forestry's Thurs. 7/30/20 news release announcing the increase to Extreme fire danger on Fri. 7/30/20 follows:


FIRE DANGER EXTREME IN SOUTHWEST OREGON 

Triple-digit temperatures recently have increased the wildfire danger in forests and wildland areas protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District. At 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 31, the official fire danger level will climb to Extreme (red) on all state, private and county forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. 

The public fire restrictions that go into effect on Friday are detailed below. The industrial fire precaution levels will remain at a level 2 for now:  

 Power saws are not allowed to be used at any time. 

 Equipment used for the cutting, grinding or welding of metal may not be used at any time. 

 The mowing of dry, cured grass with power equipment may not take place at any time. This regulation does not apply to farm equipment used for the culture and harvest of crops. 

 The use of any other spark-emitting equipment using an internal combustion engine is disallowed at any time.  

The following fire prevention regulations shall remain in effect:

 Fire-fighting equipment will be required to be carried in vehicles that travel off of state highways, county roads or driveways. This equipment includes one shovel and a one-gallon container of water or a fire extinguisher (2.5 lb. or larger). 

 Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles are required to have a 2.5 lb. or larger fire extinguisher. 

 Motorized vehicles will be allowed only on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation. This regulation does not apply to farm vehicles used for the culture and harvest of crops. 

 Campfires will be allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations.

 Smoking is allowed only in an enclosed vehicle, in a boat on the water, or in a cleared area within a campsite. 

 Fireworks are not allowed to be used in any wildland or forest area.

 Debris burning is not allowed. 

 Tracer ammunition and exploding targets are not to be used except in an approved range that has been cleared of flammable vegetation. 

 Electric fence controllers must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, be properly grounded, and tested regularly to ensure firesafe operation. 

For more information about fire season regulations, call the Southwest Oregon District office at 541-664-3328.

Brian Ballou
ODF Southwest Oregon District



 


The text of the Oregon Dept. of Forestry's Wed. 7/15/20 news release announcing the rise to HIGH (yellow) fire danger is as follows:


July 15, 2020

Oregon Department of Forestry  -   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Southwest Oregon District  -  Southwest Oregon News Media
5286 Table Rock Rd
Central Point, OR  97502

Contact: Brian Ballou

HOT WEATHER PUSHES FIRE DANGER HIGHER

Many days of 80- and 90-degree temperatures have dried wildland vegetation to the point where fires will start easily and be more difficult to control. To cut down on human-caused fires during this time, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District will raise the fire danger level to High (yellow) at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 17.

The primary change to fire prevention regulations now in effect is to move the shut-down time for power-driven machinery from 1:00 p.m. to 10 a.m., as detailed below:

 Power psaws must be shut down between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Additionally, saw users must have one shovel and one fire extinguisher (8 oz. capacity or greater) at the job site, and a fire watch must take place for one hour after the saw is shut down.

 Equipment used for the cutting, grinding or welding of metal must be conducted in a cleared area, and all work must stop between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. A charged garden hose or a fire extinguisher (2.5 lb. or larger) must be at the job site.

 The mowing of dry, cured grass with power equipment will not be allowed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. This regulation does not apply to farm equipment used for the culture and harvest of crops.

 The use of any other spark-emitting equipment using an internal combustion engine will not be allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. During other hours, this equipment must be used in a cleared area, and a garden hose or fire extinguisher (2.5 lb. or larger) must be at the equipment site.

The following fire prevention regulations shall remain in effect:

 Fire-fighting equipment will be required to be carried in vehicles that travel off of state highways, county roads or driveways. This equipment includes one shovel and a one-gallon container of water or a fire extinguisher (2.5 lb. or larger).

 Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles are required to have a 2.5 lb. or larger fire extinguisher.

 Motorized vehicles will be allowed only on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation. This regulation does not apply to farm vehicles used for the culture and harvest of crops.

 Campfires will be allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations.

 Smoking is allowed only in an enclosed vehicle, in a boat on the water, or in a cleared area within a campsite.

 Fireworks are not allowed to be used in any wildland or forest area.

 Debris burning is not allowed.

 Tracer ammunition and exploding targets are not to be used except in an approved range that has been cleared of flammable vegetation.

 Electric fence controllers must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, be properly grounded, and tested regularly to ensure firesafe operation.

For more information about fire season regulations, call the Southwest Oregon District office at 541-664-3328, or visit www.swofire.com.

###



 

FIRE DANGER LEVEL RISES TO MODERATE ON MON. JUNE 29TH

The Oregon Dept. of Forestry announced Friday morning (6/26/20) that the fire danger level will rise on Monday, June 29, to Moderate, with regulated equipment use curfew hours between 1:00 and 8:00 pm. The text of ODF's news release follows:


June 26, 2020

Oregon Department of Forestry  -  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Southwest Oregon District  -  Southwest Oregon News Media
5286 Table Rock Rd
Central Point, OR  97502

Contact: Brian Ballou


FIRE DANGER LEVEL TO RISE ON ODF-PROTECTED LANDS

Hot weather across southwest Oregon has dried vegetation in the region’s wildlands to the degree that the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District will increase the fire danger level to Moderate (blue) on Monday, June 29. Fire prevention regulations will increase on state, private and county lands protected by the district.

The following fire season regulations will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday:

•   Campfires will be allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations.

•    Motorized vehicles will be allowed only on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation. This regulation does not apply to farm vehicles used for the culture and harvest of crops.

•    Power saws must be shut down between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Additionally, saw users must have one shovel and one fire extinguisher (8 oz. capacity or greater) at the job site, and a fire watch must take place for one hour after the saw is shut down.

•    Equipment used for the cutting, grinding or welding of metal must be conducted in a cleared area, and all work must stop between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. A charged garden hose or a fire extinguisher (2.5 lb. or larger) must be at the job site.

•    The mowing of dry, cured grass with power equipment will not be allowed between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This regulation does not apply to farm equipment used for the culture and harvest of crops.

•   The use of any other spark-emitting equipment using an internal combustion engine will not be allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. During other hours, this equipment must be used in a cleared area, and a garden hose or fire extinguisher (2.5 lb. or larger) must be at the equipment site.

•   Fire-fighting equipment will be required to be carried in vehicles that travel off of state highways, county roads or driveways. This equipment includes one shovel and a one-gallon container of water or a fire extinguisher (2.5 lb. or larger).

The following fire prevention regulations have been in effect since May 1 and shall remain in effect:

•    Smoking is allowed only in an enclosed vehicle, in a boat on the water, or in a cleared area within a campsite.

•    Fireworks are not allowed to be used in any wildland or forest area.

•    Debris burning is not allowed.

•    Tracer ammunition and exploding targets are not to be used except in an approved range that has been cleared of flammable vegetation.

•    Electric fence controllers must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, be properly grounded, and tested regularly to ensure firesafe operation.

•    Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles are required to have a 2.5 lb. or larger fire extinguisher.

For more information about fire season regulations, call the Southwest Oregon District office at 541-664-3328, or visit www.swofire.com.

###

 


 

The Oregon Department of Forestry declared the start of fire season for the Southwest Oregon District, beginning Friday, May 1, at 12:01 a.m.

The fire danger level is Low (green) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is 1 (one).

All open burning is prohibited. Please observe that this includes burn barrels or incinerators. (Because of locally very dry conditions, the burn ban was already in effect within our own district by April 20th.)

We are about a month ahead of conditions typical for this time of year: BE MINDFUL OF THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE, AND THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. CONSIDER FIRE SAFETY FIRST.


ODF's 4/29/20 news release states that:

"Open burning on all lands protected by ODF in Jackson and Josephine counties is prohibited; most of the wildfires that ODF has responded to this [last] month were caused by open burning. The district tallied 34 fires that burned 32 acres in the month of April.

"Other fire prevention regulations going into effect on Friday include:

- The use of tracer ammunition and exploding targets, which are disallowed on all lands at all times;

- The use of fireworks;

- Smoking in areas with dry vegetation;

- Campfires, except in designated campgrounds and on private lands with the landowner’s permission;

- The use of electric fence controllers must be in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions for grounding and vegetation clearance.

"In addition to unusual seasonal dryness this year, drought conditions have recurred over much of the West. Rainfall amounts in the Rogue Basin are several inches lower than normal, and the extended forecast for fire season conditions calls for continued below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures. 

"The Southwest Oregon District protects 1.8 million acres of private, state, county and Bureau of Land Management wildlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. For questions about open burning and wildland fire protection regulations, call the district office at 541-664-3328."

###

Additional information from Dave Larson, District Forester, Southwest Oregon District, Oregon Dept. of Forestry, on Tues., 4/28/20, states that:

 ". . . in order to help curb the number of human caused fires (escaped backyard burns) the Southwest Oregon District will be going into Fire Season district wide at 12:01am on May 1st. Also along with the proclamation of fire season, the Southwest Oregon District will be initiating our Public Use Restrictions (Regulated Use) district wide. These restrictions are in addition to the fire season prohibitions and are regulated by the fire danger adjective level.

"Even with rain forecasted this weekend, the duration will not be enough to [?] in the long term. Drought conditions now exist district wide and it won’t take much sun or wind to rapidly dry fuels out. Since April 1st we have had 34 fires for a total of 31.75 acres. [ . . . ]"

Larson includes a Public Use Restriction Card (1-page pdf) that coordinates fire danger levels with associated restrictions during fire season.

###



 

The 2019 pre-season: [no log at this time]

 


 

 

Fire-related news and summaries for current and previous fire seasons are available from our Fire Season News Archives page.