DFPA to Raise Fire Restrictions to Moderate Starting Monday

Fire restrictions will increase across the Douglas District on Monday, October 5, as rising temperatures and falling humidity increase fire danger, according to the Douglas Forest Protective Association.

Public use restrictions will rise to Moderate at 12:01 a.m. Monday on private, county, state, and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands protected by DFPA.

The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will also increase to Level 2 at the same time in regulated use areas DG-1, DG-2, UA-1, and UA-2, including forestlands within one-eighth mile of those areas. The industrial restrictions include lands managed by the Roseburg District Bureau of Land Management.

Under Moderate public use restrictions, the following activities are permitted only before 1 p.m. or after 8 p.m.:

• Non-industrial power saw use;
• Cutting, grinding, or welding metal;
• Cutting, trimming, or mowing dried or cured grass; and
• Using power-driven machinery for non-industrial property improvement or development on private lands.

Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and ATVs, are limited to improved roads free of flammable vegetation, with an exception for cultivating and harvesting agricultural crops. All other off-road driving is restricted at all times.

Vehicles traveling on forestlands must carry an axe, a shovel, and either one gallon of water or a fire extinguisher weighing at least 2.5 pounds. ATVs must carry an ABC fire extinguisher weighing at least 2.5 pounds.

For industrial operations, IFPL Level 2 limits the following activities to the hours between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. the following day:

• Power saw use, except at loading sites;
• Feller-bunchers equipped with rotary head saws;
• Cable yarding;
• Blasting; and
• Welding, cutting, or grinding metal.

DFPA asks residents and visitors to check restrictions before heading onto forestlands.

More information is available at dfpa.net or by calling the DFPA office at 541-672-6507, excluding federal holidays.