Oregon John A. Kitzhaber MD, Governor June 26, 2013 NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: CHRISTIE SHAW, (541)886-2881 HOT WEATHER LEADS TO FIRE SEASON FOR PRIVATE LANDS IN NORTHEAST OREGON The rains of late June were welcomed by fire managers in Northeast Oregon. However the abrupt change to more typical hot and dry weather has prompted fire officials to declare FIRE SEASON beginning at 12:01 a.m., Monday, July 1, 2013 for forest and range lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, Northeast Oregon District. Matt Howard, Protection Supervisor for the Wallowa Unit had the following observations “the very hot and sunny weather will quickly dry out the fuels. It is time to enact basic fire prevention measures to minimize the threat of human-caused fires.” A fire season declaration places fire prevention restrictions on landowners and the public. Land affected includes private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands in Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties along with small portions of Malheur, Morrow, and Grant counties within the Northeast Oregon Forest Protection District. Landowners and recreationists are urged to use caution in areas of dry, cured vegetation. During Fire Season: Burn Permits for burn barrels and all open burning except camp fires are required on all private forest and range lands within the Northeast Forest Protection District of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Contact your local ODF office in La Grande, Baker City, Wallowa, or Pendleton to acquire a Burn Permit. Landowners who conducted burning of slash piles last fall and this past spring are encouraged to check the piles to ensure that they are completely out and all heat is gone. It is not uncommon for recently burned slash piles to retain heat in them for several months after the actual burning of the piles. 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. Contact your local Stewardship Forester at any ODF office for more information. Campfires must be DEAD OUT! Recreationists are reminded that campfires need to be attended and fully extinguished before being left. Get permission from the landowner prior to starting a campfire. The extended forecast for Northeast Oregon calls for very hot temperatures and limited to no moisture for the next several days. For further information, contact the Oregon Department of Forestry at these local offices: La Grande Unit (541) 963-3168 Baker City Sub-Unit (541) 523-5831 Wallowa Unit (541) 886-2881 Pendleton Unit (541) 276-3491 To report a fire, dial 9-1-1. For information on the weekends call: Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center La Grande (541) 963-7171 ######
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 22:20:05 +0000
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