Fire danger level rising to 'extreme' for ODF-protected lands

Central Point, Ore. — Beginning Friday, July 20, 2018, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Jackson and Josephine counties will rise to “extreme”. The change affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management lands within ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.

Beginning Friday, the following restrictions are in effect:

The use of power saws is prohibited.
The cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.
The mowing of dry or dead grass is prohibited.
The operation of any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not specifically mentioned above is prohibited. Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and designated locations.
Debris burning is prohibited.
Burn barrel use 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, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
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.
Fireworks are prohibited.
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 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.
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.