Douglas Forest Protective Association issues increase in fire danger to ‘Extreme’ level

Douglas County, Ore. – The Douglas Forest Protective Association has increased the fire danger to “EXTREME” effective immediately on all 1.6 million acres of land protected by DFPA. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will remain at IFPL III.

During extreme fire danger, the following activities listed under DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions are prohibited:
• The use of power saws for non-industrial purposes is prohibited.
• The cutting, grinding, or welding of metal for non-industrial purposes is prohibited.
• The mowing or trimming of dead or dry grass is prohibited. This restriction does not apply to the mowing of green maintained lawns, which is not restricted. The use of battery or electric powered string trimmers and the culture and harvest of agricultural crops are exempt from this requirement.
• Any non-industrial improvement or development taking place on private property that utilizes power driven machinery not specifically mentioned in DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions is prohibited.
The following activities listed under DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions remain in effect and are unchanged:
• Smoking is prohibited in wildland areas, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, or at other designated sites.
• Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated sites. In other locations, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed. Charcoal and pellet BBQs are allowed at residential home sites that are fully developed, landscaped, and maintained when used in a cleared area that is free of flammable vegetation. A charged garden hose or one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher must be immediately available.
• Debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, is prohibited.
• The use of fireworks is prohibited.
• Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops. In addition, each vehicle traveling on forest roads must have an axe, a shovel, AND one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
• 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 be operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

In addition to DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, state laws prohibits the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition during a declared fire season and the use of sky lanterns are prohibited year-round in Oregon.

Residents are reminded that additional fire restrictions or closures may be in place through private industrial landowners or public land management agency, on the lands they own or manage.

For more information about DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, visit www.dfpa.net or call DFPA’s 24-hour information line at 541-672-0379.