Deschutes, Willamette forests expand campfire restrictions to wilderness areas

Note extreme fire risk, resources depleted by Western wildfires

(Update: Adding Willamette National Forest announcement)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Beginning Saturday at 12:01 a.m., public use restrictions will limit the building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including a charcoal fire, except at campfire rings established by the Deschutes National Forest at posted, developed and designated campgrounds.

Though public use restrictions have been in place across most of the Deschutes National Forest since June 24, the order beginning on Saturday will include all national forest lands in wildernesses on the forest as well.

U.S. Forest Service officials said Friday, "These public use restrictions are needed to protect public health and safety, as well as natural resources, because current fuel conditions caused by extended drought present an extreme fire risk."

Here's the rest of the forest's news release:

In addition, fire suppression resources are being depleted by extensive wildfire activity across the western United States.

As a reminder, the public use restrictions also apply to the following activities:

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
• Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.
• Using an explosive.
• Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine in violation of Industrial Fire Precaution directives (IFPL), to include personal use firewood permits and campfire wood.
• Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either: - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or - Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a).
•  Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
• Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System Roads. EXCEPT when operating in compliance with travel management rule and the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).

Petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices can be used, provided such devices meet the fire underwriter’s specifications for safety.

Meanwhile, starting Saturday, at 12:01 a.m., campfires also will only be allowed in designated campgrounds on the Willamette National Forest.  Currently, campfires are allowed in select wilderness areas and designated campgrounds across the forest.

"Our dispatchers and fire staff have responded to 48 fires in the last month, that is nearly two per day," said Willamette National Forest Supervisor David Warnack.  "We all have a role to play in keeping our visitors safe during this time and minimizing human-caused fires will help to reduce stress on our firefighters and communities."

Wilderness rangers on the Detroit Ranger District have been coming across 2-4 abandoned campfires each week. Some of these campfires have escaped their ring by the time a ranger comes across them, and they become wildfires that require extensive resources and pose risk to firefighters and communities.

The Claggett Fire that burned nearly two acres in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness earlier this month is an example.

Visitors are reminded to make sure all campfires in campgrounds are out and cold to the touch before leaving.

Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/willamette/fire to view a full list of public use restrictions and campgrounds on the Willamette National Forest where visitors are permitted to have fires.  Follow @WillametteNF on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.