September 21, 2016
Cooler temperatures and higher humidity across southwest Oregon have made it possible to ease off on some of the fire prevention regulations. However, warm and dry weather is expected to return to the region by the weekend.
The fire danger level on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties will be lowered to “high” (yellow) tomorrow, September 22, 2016 at 12:00 a.m. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will remain at level 2 (two).
These regulations affect 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.
Restrictions on the public use of chain saws, brush cutters and other power-driven or spark-emitting machinery are being slightly relaxed, allowing the use of equipment until 10:00 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Today will be the last day power-driven and/or spark-emitting machinery is completely prohibited.
Other fire prevention regulations which will remain in effect, include:
· No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels;
· No firework use on forestlands;
· Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited;
· No sky lanterns may be used in wildland and forestland areas.
· Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations;
· Motorized vehicles are allowed only on improved roads;
· Chain saws may be used until 10:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. Chain saw users must have an ax, a shovel and an 8-oz or larger fire extinguisher at the job site, and a fire watch is required for one hour after the saw is shut down;
· Mowing of dead or dry grass with power-driven equipment is allowed until 10:00 a.m., and may resume after 8:00 p.m. This restriction does not apply to mowing green lawns, or to equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops;
· The cutting, grinding or welding of metal are allowed until 10:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. These activities may only take place at a site cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and with a water supply at the job site;
· Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not specifically mentioned is permitted during high fire danger before 10:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. as long as it is conducted
in a cleared area and has a charged garden hose or one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher immediately available.
· Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and other designated locations;
· Electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation.
For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s public regulated use regulations, or Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:
· Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328
· Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152
September 15, 2016
By 5:00 p.m. today, the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District will have the Rocky Road Fire 100% contained.
Fire crews have continued mopping up and monitoring for hot spots throughout the day. Their efforts have proven to be quite successful. The fire remains at 15.2 acres. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
ODF Southwest Oregon District would like to thank all agencies who helped knock down this fire. As always, we recognize that we work best as a team and are thankful to have so many outstanding partnerships throughout the state.
September 14, 2016
At approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District responded to a grass fire burning near a home on Highway 227 and Rocky Road in Trail. The Rocky Road Fire was burning at a moderate rate of speed upslope in grass, brush and timber. Within two hours, crews were able to slow down the fire’s spread and get a fire line around 80 percent of the perimeter.
Tonight, the fire size is estimated at 15.2 acres and is 35 percent contained.
There was an initial threat to nearby homes along Rocky Road; however, with the help of the Rogue Valley Wildland Task Force 2 consisting of Illinois Valley Fire District, Jackson County Fire District 5, Jackson Fire District 3, Jackson County Fire District 4, Medford Fire-Rescue and Ashland Fire & Rescue, all structures were protected.
No public or firefighter injuries have been reported.
Crews will continue to work tonight constructing additional hand line, as well as strengthening fire line currently in place. Firefighters will also be monitoring for spot fires throughout the evening and tomorrow morning. Ground crews were able to quickly stop several spot fires this afternoon at 1/10th and 1/100th of an acre.
All road closures have been lifted, but please be cautious of increased fire traffic along Highway 227.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire management officials ask that the public continue to use caution and adhere to regulations. Current fire restrictions for lands in Jackson and Josephine Counties protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District can be found at www.swofire.com.
September 6, 2016
Cool temperatures and high relative humidity has prompted the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District to drop the Industrial Fire Precaution Level to II (two) today. Cable yarding, blasting, welding or cutting of metal, and power saws except at loading sites may operate only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.
This does not change the fire danger level for the public; the regulated use closure will remain “extreme” (red). For details on fire prevention restrictions, see the Fire Season Regulations page on this website.
September 2, 2016
The 61-acre Gold Canyon Fire is now 85 percent contained.
The forecast is favorable for firefighting efforts throughout the day; temperatures range from 75 to 80 degrees and relative humidity will remain in the upper 20s. Wind gusts up to 5 mph could be present by the afternoon.
Firefighters will be mopping up 500 to 600 feet inside the fire line today further strengthening the containment of this fire. As long as conditions do not change, resources will begin being pulled from the fire Saturday.
Residents on Wildpark Lane and Reeves Creek Road will remain at a Level 1 (Ready) Evacuation Level throughout the day as a precaution. No structures have been lost.
The fire was reported Tuesday at 4:53 p.m. and its cause is under investigation. The fire investigator has made progress toward narrowing down the cause; however, official results have not been released.
Fire management officials ask that the public continue to use caution and adhere to regulations. Current fire restrictions for lands in Jackson and Josephine Counties protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District can be found at
www.swofire.com.