Medford Airtanker Base Aerial Firefighting Open House

This Saturday, the Medford Airtanker Base is hosting an aerial firefighting open house. The event is free to the public and will remain open from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Oregon Department of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service will provide an airtanker, planes and helicopters for public viewing. This is a fun way for adults and children to learn what different resources are used during the fire season that help firefighters put out wildfire. Pictures will be available for those who would like a keepsake from the event.

“This is a great way for the community to see the fire-fighting resources used during the fire season,” said Dan Thorpe, ODF district forester. “Aerial firefighting is not something all residents are aware of, and this will be a fun way for them to learn more about what we do.”

The event will be held at the Medford Airtanker Base, located at 600 Nebula Way in Medford. The Airtanker Base is sited at north of the Jackson County International Airport grounds.

The open house will be subject to cancellation due to fire.

Lightning hits Oregon-California border

Thunderstorms tracking into Jackson County from northern California today haven't penetrated much farther into Oregon than Mt. Ashland and the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Engine crews are trying to locate a smoke reported in the Colestine Road area, between Mt. Ashland and Interstate 5, but no other smokes have been reported as of 7:00 p.m. on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Thunderstorms are expected to continue late into the evening, and to return on Tuesday.

IFPL II takes effect Wednesday

Increased fire danger on forestlands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District has made it necessary to increase the fire prevention measures on industrial operations, such as logging sites and other commercial operations. Industrial Fire Precaution Level II (two) takes effect at 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28, and includes the following restrictions:

• The use of fire in any form will be prohibited
• The use of power saws will be prohibited, except at loading sites, between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• The use of cable yarders will be prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Blasting will be prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Welding or cutting of metal will be prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Additionally, commercial operators on forestlands are required to have fire suppression equipment on site and provide watchman service.

These regulations affect all state, county, private and Bureau of Land Management lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season regulations, contact the unit office in your area:

• Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. Phone: (541) 664-3328
• Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Drive, Grants Pass. Phone: (541) 474-3152

Southwest Oregon District fire precaution level information is also posted on the World Wide Web at http://www.swofire.oregon.gov/.

Which burns more acres, human-caused fires or lightning?

Last week's poll asked "Which burns more acres on ODF-protected lands in southwest Oregon: People or lightning?" Sixty percent of the respondents chose people. While it is true that people cause more fires than lightning on ODF-protected lands in southwest Oregon, lightning-caused fires typically burn more acres.

According to the historical average, between 1999 and 2009, lightning-caused fires burned an average of 4,505 acres annually. People, during that same period, caused fires that burned 977 acres annually.

Why the difference? In many cases, lightning causes fires in remote areas, which are often difficult for firefighters and their trucks to get to. Human-caused fires are often in areas much easier to access, such as near a home or beside a road.

Lightning Predicted For Tonight, Tomorrow

Thunderstorms are predicted over parts of Jackson County tonight, and across a much broader area in both Jackson and Josephine counties tomorrow.

Today, thunderstorms have been active in northern California, Klamath and Lake counties, and into central Oregon.

Earlier this afternoon, ODF Medford Unit firefighters took action on a 1-acre fire on Anderson Butte. Seven engines and a helicopter were involved in the suppression effort.