Fire-Fighting Aircraft Ready For Duty

An airtanker under contract with the Oregon Department of Forestry is now stationed at the Medford Airtanker Base, 600 Nebula Way, which is a U.S. Forest Service-operated facility. The airplane, a DC-7 owned by Butler Aircraft Co. of Redmond, is primarily for use on lands protected by ODF, but may be used on other lands if needed.

ODF protects 15.8 million acres of private and public forestland in the state.

A second ODF-contracted airtanker is based in Redmond.

The airtanker based in Medford has the tail number 62, and carries up to 3,000 gallons of retardant.

ODF's Southwest Oregon District also has a fire-fighting helicopter available for immediate use. The ship is a Bell UH-1H owned by Airlift Helicopters, Inc., of Reno, and is contracted to ODF. The helicopter can be fitted with a 300-gallon flexible bucket for dropping water on wildfires, and it is staged on a helipad at the district headquarters, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Medford.

Apply Now For OSU Extension Land Steward Program

The Jackson County OSU Extension Service is pleased to offer the new Master Land Steward program. The Land Stewards training will help local small-acreage landowners learn about ways to create a healthy environment on their property through classroom sessions, field trips and the creation of a personalized management plan for their property. The course is targeting land owners who want to learn how to balance sustainability with their rural lifestyles.

The 10-week training course will provide training for 40 southern Oregon residents on topics such as local ecology, tree care, fire hazard reduction, pasture management, biomass utilization, maintaining & improving water quality, dealing with noxious weeds, encouraging wildlife on your property, and much more. The course includes an extensive training manual, discussion-based classes, and presentations from local and regional natural resources professionals. Field trips will include visits to small acreage properties in and adjacent to forests that are implementing sustainable management practices. The Master Land Steward Program classes will be held at the OSU Extension Service in Central Point from September 9th through November 23rd.

Land Stewards will be equipped to design and implement programs to help people:

• live safely in wildfire-prone areas
• reduce yard waste and woody biomass
• identify and eradicate noxious weeds
• make their own mulch and compost
• promote and develop wildlife habitat
• maintain healthy trees and forests
• conserve water and reduce runoff

To fulfill program commitments, Master Land Stewards will be required to invest 30 service hours to support and expand local efforts to promote a healthy and sustainable environment. The volunteers will be encouraged to work within their communities to cultivate public awareness and support projects of local agencies and non-profit organizations in any of the above topics. Service activities might include the development of displays and informational brochures, presentations to student groups, work with neighborhood coalitions, public education efforts at local events, and many other activities.

Applications are available through the Jackson County OSU Extension Service at
541-776-7371, or by email: rhianna.simes@oregonstate.edu

Fire Danger Level Climbs To High Today

[ Revised 7/14/2009] The fire danger level on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties climbs to High today. Among the restrictions now in place, mowing, chain saw use and other machinery-related activities are curtailed during the afternoon hours. Campfires are restricted to designated campgrounds, and vehicles are allowed only on improved roads. [ see complete list of closures and restrictions ]

The fire danger level change, which officially took effect at 1:00 a.m. today, affects the 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF’s Southwest Oregon District. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level remains at level 1 (one).

A hot week lies ahead and already-cured fuels, such as grass and weeds, are igniting easily and burning more aggressively, necessitating increased restrictions on common fire-causing activities.

So far this year, Southwest Oregon District firefighters have responded to 87 fires that burned a total of 68.4 acres. The largest fire to date was a series of vehicle-caused fires that burned 6 acres along the Caves Highway on June 24. Thirty-two of the fires this year were caused by lightning.