Fire danger level increases to 'extreme'

Due to dry vegetation, hot conditions and numerous active fires in the region, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Josephine County and Jackson County will once again increase to "extreme" at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 6. These regulations impact 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF's Southwest Oregon District.

The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will remain at II.

Fire danger decreased to high in Josephine County and Jackson County following significant rainfall in late August. Due to increased temperatures, dry vegetation and the potential for east winds and thunderstorms, fire danger is once again increasing to extreme on the ODF Southwest Oregon District.

Beginning Sept. 6, the following public fire restrictions will take effect:

• The use of power saws is prohibited, excluding electric chainsaws.
• The cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.
• The mowing of dry or dead grass is prohibited, including all equipment that uses gas, electric or battery power.
• The operation of any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not specifically mentioned above is prohibited.

The following fire prevention regulations are currently in effect and will remain in effect until the fire danger level drops significantly:

• Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and designated locations.
• Debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, is prohibited.
• Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in approved fire rings at designated campgrounds. In other locations clear of vegetation, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
• Fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land are prohibited. Fireworks are also prohibited on all BLM lands.
• Any electric fence controller in use shall be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services; and operated in compliance with the manufacturer's fire-safe instructions.
• The use of exploding targets is prohibited.
• The use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base is prohibited.
• Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, may only be used on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except when used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher.

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