Fire Season is Over

Fire season ends today on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District. The season began June 19 and lasted 117 days.

The largest fire of the season was the 633-acre Deer Ridge Fire that broke out east of Medford on Sept. 21. Medford Unit crews responded to 120 fires that burned a total of 1,073 acres. Grants Pass Unit firefighters took action on 116 fires that burned 123 acres. The largest fire in the Grants Pass Unit was the 48-acre Lone Mountain Road Fire, which occurred Aug. 24 near O’Brien.

ODF’s Southwest Oregon District protects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

The fire danger level is “low” (green). No regulated use or industrial (IFPL) fire restrictions are in effect.

Woody debris pile and barrel burning is allowed on ODF-protected lands. However, open burning is regulated for air quality in all of Jackson County, and in the Rogue Basin Open Burn Control Area in Josephine County. Before starting a burn, call the open burning advisory number for your county:

• Jackson County, 776-7007
• Josephine County, 476-WOOD

Some cities do not allow open burning, and many rural fire protection districts require a burning permit. Call your local structural fire service provider before burning.

Information about fire season restrictions is available online at www.swofire.oregon.gov and at ODF Southwest Oregon District unit offices:

• Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd.; (541) 664-3328
• Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr.; (541) 474-3152