Fireworks Banned on ODF-Protected Lands

Oregon Department of Forestry fire managers are reminding people not to use fireworks of any kind in wildland areas. For fire prevention and safety reasons, all types of fireworks are prohibited on state and private forestlands, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, state parks and in the cities of Ashland and Shady Cove.

Fires caused by fireworks on these lands may result in the user being cited and billed for the cost of the fire suppression.

Parents are also responsible for fires caused by their children. To better prepare oneself for a safe Fourth of July, here are some helpful tips:

• Only use fireworks outdoors.
• Be aware of city laws. If fireworks are illegal in your area, do not use them.
• Be prepared and always have water nearby in case of emergency.
• Only use fireworks as they were intended. Combining fireworks or changing their components may cause a safety threat.
• Never attempt to relight a “dud” firework. Instead, wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Be smart; make sure you are a safe distance away from the firework once it has been lit.
• Children under the age of 12 should be monitored closely, even while using sparklers.
• Lastly, after all the fireworks have been lit, wait 20 minutes and then soak all remains in a bucket of water before disposing.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District protects 1.8 million acres of forest and other wildlands in Jackson and Josephine Counties. The district declared fire season on July 1.

For more information about fire season regulations on ODF protected lands, see http://www.swofire.oregon.gov/.

Be Careful With Fire This Weekend

The Keep Oregon Green Association is cautioning Oregonians to use extreme caution when visiting the forests this weekend. Although it seems like it should still be wet enough to eliminate fire danger, 45 human-caused wildfires have already been fought and suppressed by Oregon firefighters.

Many Oregonians love the great outdoors, and no matter what the recreational activity, sitting around a campfire is one of the special times we all enjoy.

During the 2009 wildfire season, however, 116 escaped or abandoned campfires burned over 200 acres on state and private lands.

Here’s what you can do to avoid causing Oregon’s next wildfire:

• Always call the local fire district to assure that fires are allowed where you’re going to camp. If they are allowed, and you choose to camp in an undeveloped campground, here are a few suggestions to ensure that your campfires will be safe.
• When selecting a site for a campfire, avoid areas near buildings, fallen trees, tree trunks, or low overhanging branches.
• Scrape all leaves and litter away down to bare earth for at least five feet on all sides of the fire. Dig a pit in the center of this circle and surround it with rocks.
• Build your campfire downwind and at a safe distance from your tent, never leave it unattended, and after you light it, thrown your match into the fire. If any sparks escape the campfire, have a shovel or rake handy to suppress them.

When it’s time to leave the campfire and head to bed or back to town, make sure you put the campfire out – DEAD OUT!

• Drown all embers, sticks, and coals, especially those that might have fallen under the rocks
• Stir the coals to make sure all heat has been removed
• Drown the area again

Please remember that wildfire prevention is your individual responsibility. Be alert to weather conditions, especially wind; and ALWAYS be careful with fire. Leave your fireworks home – they don’t belong in the forests. By being responsible, we can all Keep Oregon Green and have a safe 4th of July weekend.