ODF SW District Announces Fire Danger Level goes to Extreme
FIRE DANGER LEVEL RISES TO ‘EXTREME’ ON FRIDAY IN JACKSON AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES
Accompanying the fire danger increase Friday are additional regulations, primarily for the use of power equipment.
MEDFORD, Ore. — The fire danger level for Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties rises to “Extreme” (red) first thing Friday morning, the agency said in a statement on Thursday.
“Triple-digit temperatures recently have increased the wildfire danger in forests and wildland areas,” ODF said.
The change begins just after midnight on Friday morning. Accompanying the fire danger increase Friday are additional regulations, primarily for the use of power equipment.
The public fire restrictions that go into effect on Friday are detailed below. The industrial fire precaution levels remains at a level 2 for now:
- Power saws are not allowed to be used at any time.
- Equipment used for the cutting, grinding or welding of metal may not be used at any time.
- The mowing of dry, cured grass with power equipment may not take place at any time. This regulation does not apply to farm equipment used for the culture and harvest of crops.
- The use of any other spark-emitting equipment using an internal combustion engine is disallowed at any time.
The following fire prevention regulations remain in effect:
- Fire-fighting equipment will be required to be carried in vehicles that travel off of state highways, county roads or driveways. This equipment includes one shovel and a one-gallon container of water or a fire extinguisher (2.5 lb. or larger).
- Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles are required to have a 2.5 lb. or larger fire extinguisher.
- Motorized vehicles will be allowed only on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation. This regulation does not apply to farm vehicles used for the culture and harvest of crops.
- Campfires will be allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations.
- Smoking is allowed only in an enclosed vehicle, in a boat on the water, or in a cleared area within a campsite.
- Fireworks are not allowed to be used in any wildland or forest area.
- Debris burning is not allowed.
- Tracer ammunition and exploding targets are not to be used except in an approved range that has been cleared of flammable vegetation.
- Electric fence controllers must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, be properly grounded, and tested regularly to ensure firesafe operation.
Please help the whole community by taking action now. If there are any questions, do not hesitate to contact City Hall at 541-878-2225. Community Service Officers will be patrolling regularly.
Noxious vegetation. The presence of vegetation on property or in the right-of-way of a street, alley or sidewalk abutting the property, anytime between May 1 and September 30 of any year including:
Weeds or grass more than 10 inches
Blackberry bushes that extend into a public thoroughfare or across a property line
Poison oak or ivy
Vegetation that is a health hazard, a fire hazard or other hazard because it is near other combustibles, or a traffic hazard because it impairs the view of the public thoroughfare or otherwise makes use of the thoroughfare hazardous for pedestrians and/or vehicles.