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Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 Mail Tribune article: "Wet end to '07 fire season. Number of acres burned slightly under 10-year average... " (58k - 2007-10-02) - Excerpt follows:
ODF BULLETIN - Monday, October 1st, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY Contact: Greg Alexander, Medford Unit Forester, (541)
664-3328, FIRE SEASON ENDS ON ODF-PROTECTED LANDS The Oregon Department of Forestry's Southwest Oregon District declared an end to the 2007 fire season today. This declaration affects state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. Current and predicted rainfall is sufficient to lower the public-use fire danger level to "Low." All public-use restrictions and fire season-related closures on industrial operations are removed as of 8:00 a.m. today. Debris pile and barrel burning is now allowed on ODF-protected lands. However, open burning is regulated for air quality in all of Jackson County, and in the Rogue Basin Open Burn Control Area in Josephine County. Before starting a burn, call the open burning advisory number for your county: -- Jackson County, 776-7007 Some city fire departments and rural fire protection districts have additional restrictions, or may require a burning permit. Call your local structural fire service provider before burning. Fire season on the Southwest Oregon District began June 11 and lasted 113 days - 30 days shorter than average. As of Sept. 24, 259 fires occurred on ODF-protected lands and blackened 720 acres. Southwest Oregon District fire season information is posted on the World Wide Web at www.swofire.oregon.gov. Information is also available at the Southwest Oregon District office in your area: -- Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. Phone: (541) 664-3328 -- Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Drive, Grants Pass. Phone: (541) 474-3152 ###
ODF BULLETIN - September 28, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - SOUTHWEST OREGON NEWS MEDIA OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY - SOUTHWEST OREGON DISTRICT Contact: Greg Alexander, (541) 664-3328, or Rick Dryer, (541) 474-3152 FIRE SEASON RESTRICTIONS EASED ON ODF-PROTECTED LANDS Rain in Jackson and Josephine counties has prompted the
Oregon Department of Forestry to drop restrictions on power equipment
use by the public on most state, private, county and Bureau of Land
Management lands protected by the Southwest Oregon District. However,
restrictions on open burning, campfires, off-road vehicle use and fireworks
use Power equipment such as chain saws, mowers, brush cutters, welders and grinders may now be used all day. Prior to today, use of these types of equipment had to be suspended between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. It is still a good idea to have a shovel and a water supply close at hand when using these pieces of equipment in grassy and forestland areas. The fire danger level on ODF-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties remains "High" (yellow) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is 1 (one). The following public use restrictions are now in effect: -- All open burning of debris is prohibited. This includes burn barrels. -- Fireworks are prohibited, except in cleared areas such as green lawns and driveways. -- Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. This restriction includes charcoal-fired barbecues; however, stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed. -- Vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are not allowed on unimproved roads. -- Smoking is allowed only in a vehicle and only while on an improved road. In the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River between Grave Creek and Marial: -- Smoking is prohibited except in boats on the water, and on vegetation-free gravel bars and sand bars. -- Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, cooking fires and warming fires. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels, and charcoal fires for cooking and built in raised fire pans, are allowed on vegetation-free gravel bars and sand bars. -- Travelers must carry a shovel and bucket (one-gallon size). -- Fireworks are prohibited. Under Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1, commercial operations, such as timber harvesting, conducted on forestlands are required to have fire suppression equipment on the job site at all times, and a watchman must be provided. This affects regulated use areas SW-1, SW-2, SW-3 and SW-4. For a map of these areas, see your local ODF unit office (addresses below) or view an online map at www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/images/fwz.jpeg <http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/images/fwz.jpeg> For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire season regulations, contact the unit office in your area: -- Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. Phone:
(541) -- Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Drive, Grants Pass.
Phone: (541) Southwest Oregon District fire precaution level information is also posted on the World Wide Web at www.swofire.oregon.gov. ###
ODF BULLETIN - Wed., September 19, 2007 OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY - SOUTHWEST OREGON DISTRICT COOLER WEATHER PROMPTS FIRE DANGER LEVEL DROP ON ODF-PROTECTED LANDS IN JACKSON AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES If there's snow on Dutchman Peak (which there is) then it's time to drop the fire danger level in the valleys. Starting today, the fire danger level on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties is "High" (yellow) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is 1 (one). The following public use restrictions are now in effect: -- Chain saw use will be disallowed between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. During other hours, users must have an axe, shovel and fire extinguisher on-site, and provide a one-hour fire watch after using the saw. -- Mowing dry grass will be disallowed between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (except for agricultural purposes, such as cutting hay). -- Cutting, grinding or welding metal will be disallowed between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. During other hours, a water supply must be present at the work site and work may proceed only in a cleared area. -- All open burning of debris is prohibited. This includes burn barrels. -- Fireworks are prohibited, except in cleared areas such as green lawns and driveways. -- Camp fires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. This restriction includes charcoal-fired barbecues; however, stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed. -- Vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are not allowed on unimproved roads. -- Smoking is allowed only in a vehicle and only while on an improved road. In the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River between
Grave Creek -- Smoking is prohibited except in boats on the water, and on vegetation-free gravel bars and sand bars. -- Open fires are prohibited, including camp fires, cooking fires and warming fires. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels, and charcoal fires for cooking and built in raised fire pans, are allowed on vegetation-free gravel bars and sand bars. -- Travelers must carry a shovel and bucket (one-gallon size). -- Fireworks are prohibited. Under IFPL 1, commercial operations, such as timber harvesting, conducted on forestlands are required to have fire suppression equipment on the job site at all times, and a watchman must be provided. This affects regulated use areas SW-1, SW-2, SW-3 and SW-4. For a map of these areas, see your local ODF unit office (addresses below) or view an online map at http://oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/images/fwz.jpeg For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire season regulations, contact the unit office in your area: -- Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. Phone: (541) 664-3328 -- Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Drive, Grants Pass. Phone: (541) 474-3152 Southwest Oregon District fire precaution level information is also posted on the World Wide Web at www.swofire.oregon.gov. ### Brian Ballou - Fire Prevention Specialist
September 17, 2007 - ODF BULLETIN: Chain saw use. During other hours, users must have an
ax, shovel and fire extinguisher on-site, and provide a 1-hour fire
watch after using the saw. The following public-use restrictions remain in effect: All debris burning is prohibited, including burn barrels.
The fire danger level on ODF-protected lands remains
"Extreme" (red) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is
II (two).
FIRE UPDATE BULLETIN - August 31, 2007 8:05 a.m. Oregon Dept. of Forestry - Southwest District
BULLETIN - August 30, 2007 8:13 a.m. - Oregon Dept.
of Forestry - Southwest District
The public use fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry's Southwest Oregon District climbed to "extreme" (red) at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, August 28. Fire precaution levels assigned by the Southwest Oregon District, located in Medford, affect state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. The district has unit offices in Medford and Grants Pass. As of August 28th, 2007, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) on forestlands protected by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s Southwest District remains in effect .
The IFPL (Industrial Fire Protection Level) was posted at level II (two) at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 24. This declaration affects state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. Commercial operations, such as timber harvesting, conducted on forestlands are required to have fire suppression equipment on the job site at all times, and a watchman must be provided. In addition, IFPL II prohibits the following activities: · The use of fire in any form · The use of power saws, except at loading sites, between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. · The use of cable yarders between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. · Blasting between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. · Welding or cutting of metal between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
According to a June 28th news article, "[a]lthough May and June were relatively mild, "the next three months are predicted to bring above normal temperatures to the region," according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise. Even though we will have air tanker support in Medford again this summer and regional crews are well prepared, the demands upon firefighters and resources are likely to be intense. See full article.
The ODF announced the beginning of fire season for all ODF-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine Counties, effective as of 12:01 A.M. on Monday, June 11th, 2007: June 8, 2007 - NEWS SOUTHWEST OREGON NEWS MEDIA - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY FIRE SEASON BEGINS MONDAY ON ODF-PROTECTED LANDS IN JACKSON AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES Fire season on forestlands protected by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s Southwest District begins at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 11. The fire danger level will be “moderate” (blue), and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be 1 (one). This declaration affects state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. Fire season is declared by the state forester when weather conditions and dry vegetation make fires difficult to control. In 2006, the district declared fire season on May 24 and ended it on Nov. 2. Here is a summary of fire season restrictions that go into effect on Monday: • Debris burning will be prohibited, except in burn barrels for which a permit has been issued. To obtain a permit, contact the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s unit offices in Medford or Grants Pass. Also, local fire districts may require an additional permit. • The use of fireworks on forestlands will be prohibited. • In the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River between Grave Creek and Marial: o Camp fires must be in fire pans or on fire blankets that are placed on sand or gravel bars between the river and the high water mark, and only in areas which are naturally free of flammable vegetation. o Smoking will be permitted on sand and gravel bars between the river and the high water mark, and only in areas naturally free of flammable vegetation, or in boats and rafts while on the river. o Fireworks will be prohibited. o Travelers must carry a shovel and a bucket with at a least a one-gallon capacity. • Commercial operations, such as timber harvesting, conducted on forestlands will be required to have fire suppression equipment on the job site at all times, and a watchman must be provided. For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season regulations, contact the Southwest District’s unit office in your area: • Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. Phone: (541) 664-3328 • Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Drive, Grants Pass. Phone: (541) 474-3152 Southwest Oregon District fire precaution level information is also posted on the World Wide Web at www.swofire.oregon.gov. ###
As of June 1st, fire season was declared to be in effect for the Colestin Rural Fire District. Chief Steve Avgeris made the announcement at the June 1st Board meeting, stating that, although the Oregon Dept. of Forestry had not yet declared fire season throughout southwest Oregon, our district is drier and ahead of general seasonal conditions that determine when fire season begins, and open burning is no longer safe. (It is the prerogative and responsibility of individual districts to determine the need for fire season status, when local conditions reflect a higher level of fire danger than general regional conditions do. Local districts must abide by ODF's regional designations and corresponding restrictions and/or prohibitions cannot be less than those set by ODF, but when local conditions warrant, restrictions and/or prohibitions may be increased from those set by ODF.)
March 29, 2007 - Mail Tribune (Medford), by Paul Fattig: "Region's water content below average despite a seemingly snowy winter: The Siskiyou Summit was an exception, with a content of 109 percent of normal"
February 28, 2007 - Mail Tribune (Medford), by Paul Fattig: "Snow survey suggests bountiful year: Although extremely light snow prevented accurate readings at three sites, those taken at others indicate water supplies will be good"
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