Industrial Fire Restrictions Increase to Level 3 Across Douglas District Wednesday

Industrial operations across the Douglas District will face increased fire restrictions beginning Wednesday as hot, dry conditions continue to raise wildfire concerns.

The Douglas Forest Protective Association announced that Industrial Fire Precaution Levels will increase to Level 3 at 12:01 a.m. July 15. The change applies to private, county, state and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands throughout the district.

The restrictions cover regulated use areas DG-1, DG-2, UA-1 and UA-2, along with forestland located within one-eighth of a mile of those areas.

The Roseburg District Bureau of Land Management is also included in the fire season declaration, although additional prevention orders or restrictions may apply on BLM-administered lands.

IFPL restrictions primarily regulate logging, timber harvesting and other industrial work involving machinery or activities that could create sparks.

Under Level 3, also known as Restricted Shutdown, most industrial activities involving fire or power-driven machinery are prohibited during the hottest portion of the day.

The following activities may generally operate only between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.:

• Power saw use at loading sites
• Loading or hauling products and materials
• Blasting
• Welding, cutting or grinding metal
• Other spark-producing operations

Several ground-based logging activities may also operate during those hours when equipment capable of quickly constructing a fire line is immediately available. Those activities include:

• Tractor, skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder and shovel logging operations
• Power saw use during ground-based operations
• Rotary and non-rotary head saw feller-bunchers
• Tethered or winch-assisted logging systems used on steep slopes

Most cable yarding operations are prohibited under Level 3. Limited exceptions are available for certain gravity-operated or approved motorized carriage systems operating between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. and meeting specific fire-safety requirements.

The State Forester or an authorized representative may approve modifications or waivers in writing.

The restrictions will remain in effect until they are replaced or ended through another order.

Information about restrictions on BLM-managed lands is available through the Bureau of Land Management’s Oregon-Washington fire information website.