Campfire ban begins Friday on C. Oregon public lands
With increased fire activity and an influx of visitors coming to Central Oregon for the solar eclipse, public land managers for the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland announced Wednesday they will implement a ban on open campfires and Industrial Fire Precaution Level 4 on Friday .
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, campfires, including charcoal and pellet fires, will no longer be allowed on public lands. This is a change from the implementation of Public Use Restrictions on July 18, which limited campfires to designated campgrounds. This fire ban includes all Wilderness areas. Portable cooking stoves or lanterns using liquefied or bottled fuel may be used in all areas.
In addition to the campfire ban, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will raise to 4 on Friday. IFPL 4, referred to as “General Shutdown” means that all industrial operations are prohibited including chainsaw use for firewood cutting, and possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads.
In addition to campfire restrictions, smoking is restricted to an enclosed vehicle or building, in a designated campground, 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.
Officials want to remind the public that fireworks are prohibited on all federal lands at all times.
Public use restrictions help protect the land, resources and visitors.
Public land managers carefully consider the current fire situation, fuel moisture and predicted weather before making the decision to ban open fires on public land.
With the heavy demand on our firefighting resources in addition to the hundreds of thousands of visitors projected to visit Central Oregon for the solar eclipse, every fire that’s prevented protects our communities and helps our firefighters remain available, rested, and safe.
For the Central Oregon Fire Information Fire hotline, call 541-316-7711 or keep up-to-date with fire activity by following us on Twitter at @CentralORFire.
