Danger prompts C. Oregon fire restrictions
Fire danger in Central Oregon has prompted fire officials to restrict certain activities on lands managed by the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management, the Ochoco National Forest and the Crooked River National Grassland.
Effective 12:01 a.m. August 21 (Tuesday), open fires, including charcoal fires, will be prohibited, except in the following designated campgrounds:
Ochoco National Forest: Barnhouse, Cottonwood Pit, Salter’s Cabin, Sugar Creek, Wolf Creek, Antelope Reservoir, Wildcat, Walton Lake, Deep Creek, Ochoco Forest Camp, and Ochoco Divide.
Prineville BLM: Castle Rock, Still Water, Lone Pine, Palisades, Chimney Rock, Cobble Rock, Post Pile, and Poison Butte.
“More than 15,000 firefighting personnel are already engaged suppressing fires around the country right now,” said Doug Johnson, Acting Fire Staff for Central Oregon Fire Management Service (the combined Forest Service and BLM fire organization in Central Oregon).
“While we have resources to respond to new fires here in Central Oregon, we cannot count on other regions providing additional assistance;” Johnson said. “And with lightning expected, we need to do everything we can to limit human-caused wildfires.”
In addition to campfire restrictions, smoking is restricted to an enclosed vehicle or building, in boats on lakes and rivers, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable material.
Portable cooking stoves or lanterns using liquefied or bottled fuel may be used in all areas.
Every year, lightning-caused fires place a heavy demand on our firefighting resources, and put our wildlands, our firefighters, and our communities at risk.
Fire officials want to remind people that they play a role in keeping our firefighters and our public safe.
Fires caused through carelessness or negligence only increase the threat to life and livelihood, and place an even greater burden on already busy firefighters.
In an active fire season, we need our firefighters available and ready to respond. Every fire that’s prevented helps firefighters remain available, rested and safe.
