Fire Danger increases Regulated Use Closures and Public Use Restrictions

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LAKEVIEW, Ore. –The South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership will be increasing the Fire Danger Level to “High” and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level II (Partial Hootowl) starting at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 27, 2024. 

This increase will bring additional fire restrictions which include all private, county and state wildlands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Klamath-Lake District and Walker Range Forest Patrol Association. It also applies to the Fremont-Winema National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District, Crater Lake National Park, and the Sheldon-Hart Mountain and Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complexes.

For all restrictions please visit: http://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml

With the increase in fire danger, Public Use Restrictions will go into effect across the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District restricting campfires to designated sites only. 

Industrial Fire Precaution Level II - Partial Hootowl – Industrial operations conducted on public land may operate between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time:

  • Power saws except at loading sites

  • Cable yarding

  • Blasting

  • Welding or cutting of metal

Additionally, all lands protected by the ODF Klamath-Lake District will begin Public Regulated Use Closures. 

Under the Public Regulated Use Closure, the following activities are prohibited on all private, county and state wildlands:

  • Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.

  • Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated locations. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.

  • Chainsaw use is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Chainsaw use is allowed at all other hours if the following firefighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one axe, one shovel and one 8 ounce or larger fire extinguisher. A fire watch also is required at least one hour following the use of each saw.

  • Use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads and except for vehicle use by a landowner and employees of the landowner conducting activities associated with their livelihood. Landowners and their employees conducting activities associated with their livelihood shall carry a shovel and 2 ½ pound fire extinguisher when operating ATVs off improved roads.

  • Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling in a motorized vehicle, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher, except for all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, which must be equipped with an approved spark arrestor in good working condition.

  • Use of all fireworks is prohibited.

  • Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is prohibited. For landowners and employees of the landowner on their own land while conducting activities associated with their livelihood, cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. At all other times, the area is to be cleared of flammable vegetation, and the following firefighting equipment is required: one axe, one shovel and one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher in good working order.

As fire season progresses conditions will continue to be hot and dry. There is no predicted moisture in the forecast, so we ask the public to please continue to be vigilant and use caution this fire season.

It is the responsibility of all individuals in the SCOFMP area to know and comply with current restrictions that are in place. Failure to comply with fire precautionary requirements may result in the issuance of a violation notice. 

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