IFPL II Takes Effect Today

Industrial Fire Precaution Level 2 (two) takes effect today on lands protected by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District. No changes will be made to public regulated use restrictions on ODF-protected lands. The fire danger level remains “extreme” (red).

Under IFPL 2, the following restrictions are in effect:

• The use of fire in any form is prohibited;


• The use of power saws is prohibited, except at loading sites, between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.;


• The use of cable yarders is prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.;


• Blasting is prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.;


• Welding or cutting of metal are 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/.

Fire Restrictions Increase on Rogue River-Siskiyou NF

Heightened fire danger has prompted officials of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest to increase restrictions on activities that could ignite wildfires. Effective at midnight on September 13, 2011, fires, smoking and use of internal combustion engines on the High Cascades, Siskiyou Mountains and Wild Rivers Ranger Districts are prohibited as follows:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire except in designated recreation sites in approved fire rings, fireplaces or stoves at those sites. Commercial stoves fired by liquid fuel or propane are permitted.


2. To smoke except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material or while aboard a watercraft while navigating or at rest on a waterway.


3. To operate an internal combustion engine except a motor vehicle operated on Forest Development Roads or within designated parking areas; and except recreational dredges must remain in the middle of the stream, remain in the water 1 hour after shut-down, never be left unattended while operating, have a certified compliant spark arrester, and shut-down by 1pm.


4. Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame.

For a list of the designated recreation sites that allow fires in approved fire rings, go to: www.fs.fed.us/r6/rrs or call or visit any Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest office.

OSU Extension Classes for Woodland Landowners

Woodland Trails & Wildlife
Friday, Sept. 30
11 am - 4 pm
OSU Extension, 215 Ringuette, Grants Pass

Trails can be a huge asset to your property. They provide quick access for your land management activities, and you can get to those special places without having to bushwack and carry a machete. This field-based workshop will cover trail design and location, construction, and maintenance, with an emphasis on walking trails. You’ll spend time practicing trail layout, and even build a short section of trail. Prepare to get a little dirty, have fun, and learn enough to get started on your own place.

The second part of the program will cover practical tips for enhancing wildlife habitat on your property – wildlife that can be viewed from your new trail system! We will start at the Extension office and then visit a beautiful forest property near Glendale where the field activities will take place. This program will involve light physical activity, including walks in the woods and a short stint of trail building. Boots, hat, gloves, and water recommended; bring a sack lunch.

Cost: $5 per person/couple. Pre-registration required; call 541-476-6613.


Forest Field Day & Equipment Demonstration
Saturday, October 8
9am – 2 pm
Jacksonville area

This field day will feature displays and demonstrations of equipment useful to woodland owners and other rural landowners, for tasks ranging from tree planting to brushing to firewood cutting to log moving. You’ll see everything from hand and power tools to tractors with winches for pulling logs and the Ascender, a self-propelled tree pruning system. Small acreage and new and inexperienced landowners are especially encouraged to attend, but there will be something for landowners of every experience level. Session will be held in the Jacksonville area. Co-sponsored by the Jackson Josephine Small Woodlands Association and the OSU Extension Service.

Chainsaws on the Tailgate: Safe & Effective Chainsaw Use
Friday, October 14
9-11 am
OSU Extension, 215 Ringuette, Grants Pass

Learn the basics of maintaining and operating your chainsaw properly. You’ll learn tips for safe operation of your saw, and how to make your saw last longer and work harder. Bar and chain maintenance will be covered too, with an emphasis on saw sharpening. You’ll benefit from bringing your own saw, but are not required to have one.

Cost: $5 person/couple. Co-sponsored by the Jackson Josephine Small Woodlands Association and the OSU Extension Service. Pre-registration required-call 476-6613.

Help Wanted to Determine Wildfire Causes

Eight fires in the O’Brien area have been determined to be of suspicious origin, and the Oregon Dept. of Forestry and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest are seeking the public’s help in finding the person responsible for setting these fires. The first fire of suspicious origin was set June 13 and the most recent was 79-acre Lone Mtn. Fire, which started Sept. 9.

The fires were in the Lone Mountain Road, Waldo Road and Suncrest Road areas.

Anyone who saw a person or vehicle in the area of a wildfire in the O’Brien area this summer is encouraged to call (800) 452-7888, toll-free, to reach the Oregon Council Against Arson. Information is confidential, so please leave your name, a phone number, whether you have photographs or video of one or more of these fires in the early stages, and a description of a vehicle or person that you saw.

Lightning Starts 5 Small Fires in National Forest

A thunder cell peppered the area near Rustler Peak with lightning yesterday evening starting at least five new fires on the High Cascades Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Engines and handcrews have responded to these small fires located approximately 10 miles northeast of Butte Falls. One of the fires is located within the Sky Lakes Wilderness. All of the fires are currently estimated to be less than one acre. Fire lookouts and aerial reconnaissance will continue to search for new smokes today.

Lone Mountain Fire Update

Very few smokes were visible from the 79-acre Lone Mountain Fire last night and after a careful search with a hand-held infra-red detector, only a very few “hot spots” were detected. Fire crews will be given these coordinates today, and if the smokes are well inside the burned area they will be monitored during the next few days.

The smaller fire size is from more accurate mapping of the fire's perimeter.

The fire is 95 percent contained. Full containment is expected by Tuesday.

Firefighters have completed their mop-up requirements by extinguishing all burning materials up to 150 feet from containment lines. This fire will now be managed by a smaller fire management organization comprised of forest employees from the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

The incident command post will be based from the Wild Rivers Ranger District compound in Cave Junction.

The fire burned in some very steep and rugged country, just north of the California border. No injuries to personnel or damage to structures have been reported.

Three Lightning Fires Found in Johnson Prairie Area

Oregon Dept. of Forestry engine crews from the Medford Unit found three small lightning-caused fires in the Johnson Prairie area late Sunday. One fire was 1/2 acre, another 1/4 acre, and the third was less than 1/10 of an acre.

Johnson Prairie is a few miles southeast of Howard Prairie Reservoir.

A reconnaissance plane will fly over the southern Cascade Range today. Lightning strikes were seen Sunday in the forest east and northeast of Rustler Peak.

Lone Mtn Fire Lined at 100 Acres

Fire suppression activities on the Lone Mountain Fire are progressing very quickly and successfully. The fire perimeter has been walked by personnel with a GPS unit and the acres burned, or area within the containment lines is now calculated to be approximately 100 acres. That perimeter is entirely circled with containment lines and crews have installed fire hoses on most of the lines to assist in mopping up, or extinguishing of all burning materials up to 150' in from the fire lines.

The fire is 75 percent contained. Full containment is expected by Wednesday, Sept. 14.

The Oregon and California (ORCA) Incident Management Team (IMT) assumed management responsibilities for the fire on Saturday, September 9, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. under a unified command with Oregon Department of Forestry, the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management (USDI), and with the USDA Forest Service, Rouge River-Siskiyou National Forest. An incident command post has been established at Lake Selmac County Park with over 270 fire fighters and support personnel actively working to quickly suppress the Lone Mountain Fire.

Four helicopters are also assigned to this fire along with fixed-wing air tankers available in Medford, if needed.

Very little smoke is coming from this fire and there are no evacuations or immediately-threatened structures. All roads and trails are open and there are no negative effects to the recreation opportunities of the area. No injuries and no damage to structures have been reported.