C.O. human-caused fires rise; Forest Service boosts patrols

Central Oregon fire officials said Friday they have seen an increase in human caused fires since implementing public use restrictions two weeks ago.

While the majority of the offenses have been abandoned or escaped campfires, a few of the fires are still under investigation.

To date, Central Oregon has seen 208 wildfires in the 2015 wildfire season, and of that number, 119 have been human caused-starts, which is an increase from the past few years.

Due to this surge, Forest Service law enforcement officers will be increasing patrols on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland.

Public use restrictions are in place across Central Oregon. Campfires, warming fires and cooking fires, including charcoal fires, portable propane campfires, biomass or particle wood-burning stoves, and wood pellet grills or smokers, are prohibited on Forest Service and BLM lands except in established fire rings at designated campgrounds.

The Central Oregon public is reminded that we are still in EXTREME fire danger.

Based on monitoring conducted by OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon fuel moistures in ceanothus and manzanita are currently 1-2 months ahead of their normal moisture levels and sagebrush, in some areas, is currently at its lowest level of moisture in seven years of study.

In addition to public use restrictions, the Prineville BLM, Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland are currently inIndustrial Fire Precaution Level III(IFPL). The IFPL applies to permitted and industrial operations, including woodcutting, on federal lands.