Fire Managers Increases Fire Danger to Moderate
Lakeview, OR - Due to the upcoming forecasted hot and dry conditions beginning Friday, June 30, 2023, at 12:01 a.m., the agencies of the South-Central Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) will be raising the Fire Danger Level to MODERATE.
With the progression of summer conditions and continued drying of forest fuels, local fire danger levels are expected to reach “MODERATE” by the weekend. Fires starting in these conditions have the potential to spread quickly on windy days.
We would like to encourage the public to continue to use caution and avoid starting a wildfire this weekend and through the 4th of July. The use of fireworks is illegal year-round on National Forest Lands and currently illegal on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Illegal fireworks cost more than you think. You can be held liable for suppression costs if your fireworks cause a wildfire.
As a reminder, the official fire season declaration on June 16th put into effect restrictions for debris burning and timber harvest operations. Wildland and structural fire protection agencies in Klamath County have agreed to prohibit all outdoor debris burning. Forest operations that require a permit to operate power-driven machinery are required to have fire tools, an on-site water supply, and watchman service on privately owned forested lands. The release of sky lanterns is prohibited any time of the year. The discharge of exploding targets and the discharge of tracer ammunition is not permitted for the duration of the fire season.
For more information on restrictions please visit: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx
Industrial Fire Precaution Level I (IFPL) will remain on public lands administered by the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District, and Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
As a reminder under IFPL I, Closed Season - Fire precaution requirements are in effect. A Fire Watch is required at this and all higher levels unless otherwise waived.
- Fire extinguisher and shovel must be with each chainsaw.
- Fire extinguishers must be in all vehicles.
- Chainsaws must have a .023-inch mesh screen installed in the exhaust.
- Approved spark arresters must be on all internal combustion engines.
- Watchmen service must be provided for 1 hour after the shutdown of power equipment for the day unless otherwise specified.
- No smoking is permitted while working or traveling through any operations area on public land except while in enclosed vehicles.
- Permits to burn are required unless waived in advance.
At this time Public Use Restrictions are in effect on all lands managed by the BLM in the Klamath River Canyon only. This includes areas within a half a mile of the Klamath River from the Keno Dam downstream to the Oregon/California border. The full order can be found on www.blm.gov/orwafire.
For more information on restrictions please visit: https://www.scofmp.org/ or online on Facebook at facebook.com/SCOFMPFireInfo.