Fire Season Begins Thursday, 7/21 in NW Oregon

NEWSROOM

Published by Kristin Babbs

07.20.2016

 FROM:         Oregon Department of Forestry

Fire Season will officially begin on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 01:00 a.m.  This will affect all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in the Northwest Oregon Forest Protection District. This area includes all State, private and BLM forest land in the Tillamook, Astoria, and Forest Grove Districts, which consists of Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill, Clatsop, Columbia, and Multnomah Counties, as well as portions of Lincoln County.

When the Proclamation is prepared it will be posted on the following website:

http://www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/FIRE/precautionlevel.aspx

With Fire Season in effect, Forest Operators must have required fire equipment at the site of their operation, and are reminded to inspect their fire equipment to ensure it is ready and can pass inspection.  Forest Operators must also provide fire watch on each operation after equipment is shut down at the end of operations each day (see attached waiver).   Fire season rules also prohibit smoking while in or traveling through any “operation area”, and prohibit the use of fuse and caps for blasting on forest land.  **Fire Weather Zones NW-1, NW-2, NW-3 will start out at Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1, effective July 21, 2016.  IFPL changes and fire season information may be obtained by contacting your nearest ODF office.

For the General Public, burning permits are required for open pile burning and burn barrels.  Residents that live within a City Fire Department District or Rural Fire Protection District, will need to contact their local Fire Department for burn permit requirements.

In Tillamook County, the Oregon Department of Forestry issues burning permits for open pile burning and burn barrels.   Effective July 15th, there is a county wide ban on open pile burning and no permits will be issued for open pile burning.  Burn barrel permits may be obtained until July 31, 2016There is no fee for the burn permit, but an on-site inspection with the landowner is performed prior to issuing a permit.  Information about burning permits and how to obtain a permit is available by calling the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-815-7056 (24 hr line), or you may contact your local fire department.

Effective August 1st, all burning will be banned for all of Tillamook County.  Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and complete all burning prior to the ban.

If you live outside of Tillamook County, check with your local ODF office or local fire department to find out burning restrictions for your county.

It is also a good reminder that fire can be a hazard at anytime of year if steps are not taken to use fire safely.  Whenever you use fire, whether for debris burning or enjoying a campfire, use these steps to prevent your fire from turning into the next wildfire.

  • Never leave your fire unattended.
  • When burning debris, always have a hose and shovel at the fire to prevent the fire from spreading.
  • Check with your local fire protection agency prior to burning. (Most Rural Fire Protection Districts require a burn permit year round.)
  • If camping, ensure your campfire is in a designated area.
  • Always make sure your campfire is out cold before leaving.
  • On the beach, keep your campfire far from beach grass and drift wood piles.

Forest users may obtain information about state forest lands, industrial fire restrictions and public fire restrictions by contacting your local ODF office or through our website, blogs and social media:

IFPL Levels:

  1. Closed Season
    Fire season requirements are in effect. In addition to other fire prevention measures, a Fire Watch is required at this and all higher levels unless otherwise waived.II. Partial Hootowl
    The following may operate only between the hours of 8 P.M. and 1 P.M.
  •  power saws except at loading sites;
  •  cable yarding;
  •  blasting;
  •  welding or cutting of metal.

III. Partial Shutdown
The following are prohibited except as indicated:

  • cable yarding – except that gravity operated logging systems employing non-motorized carriages may operate between 8 P.M. and 1 P.M. when all blocks and moving lines are suspended 10 feet above the ground except the line between the carriage and the chokers.
  •  power saws – except power saws may be used at loading sites and on tractor/skidder operations between the hours of 8 P.M. and 1 P.M.

In addition, the following are permitted to operate between the hours of 8 P.M. and 1 P.M.:

  • tractor/skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations where tractors, skidders or other equipment with a blade capable of constructing fireline are immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start;
  • mechanized loading or hauling of any product or material;
  • blasting;
  • welding or cutting of metal;
  • any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned.
  1. General Shutdown
    All operations are prohibited.

 

 

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