JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — According to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), fire season is starting on June 1 and with it comes multiple regulations.
The fire danger level is set to start off as low in Jackson and Josephine counties. But ODF says regulations will be in place for the nearly two million acres of land that is protected by the agency.
The areas include state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
One of the main regulations coming will be no burning of debris. Campfires will be allowed on private land and in designated campgrounds.
Fireworks are prohibited on or within 1/8 of a mile of ODF-protected land. There can be no usage of exploding targets or tracer ammunition either.
ODF also states that “smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations.”
When it comes to controllers for electric fences, these must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. On industrial activities, a Firewatch will be required.
According to ODF, it is known that the above activities can cause fires and “will be prohibited with the start of fire season.”
The agency has already responded to 14 human-caused fires since mid-March.
NBC5 News spoke with ODF’s Natalie Weber who says adhering to the regulations is so important.
All of our fire departments are ready to respond to fires, but we really need to partner with our communities to prevent them from happening in the first place. Most of the fires that we see are human-caused and they’re accidental. So really, by following the regulations that are put in place by ODF and other local federal fire agencies; that’s what is going to help us prevent fires.
For more information about fire season and its regulations, you can call ODF’s office or visit its official website.
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