Willamette NF bans campfires in wilderness areas
In addition to current fire restrictions, Willamette National Forest fire managers said Thursday they are banning campfires in all wilderness areas.
“Unfortunately, despite earlier restrictions, we continue to see illegal and abandoned fires,” said Deputy Forest Supervisor Holly Jewkes. “Given the abundance of wildfire activity, the relative shortage of resources, and the increasingly hot and dry weather, we are going a step further and ban the use of campfires in wilderness areas.”
The campfire ban includes all land within the wilderness boundaries on both the Willamette and the Deschutes national forests.
Fire restrictions put in place July 20 are still in effect. Campfires are allowed in metal or concrete fire rings in the designated campgrounds listed below. Use of charcoal briquettes is prohibited but camp stoves that run on propane or liquid fuels and have an on/off switch are acceptable.
Smoking is not allowed, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or a developed recreation site. Generators are permitted only in areas devoid of vegetation, such as a paved area or developed campsite. Motorized vehicles may operate only on designated trails and roads. Santiam and Huckleberry OHV areas remain open but riders are cautioned to park in areas devoid of vegetation for 10′ around any vehicle.
A campfire and open flame ban remains in effect for all Oregon State Park campgrounds, and day-use areas. On Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Forestry lands, fires are only permitted in designated campgrounds.
Of the 107 large, active fires burning in the United States, 15 are burning in Oregon. The National Preparedness Level is currently at 5 – the highest level, and the Pacific Northwest is currently experiencing a very challenging fire year, due to both the number and size of active fires and the current shortage of firefighting resources (like crews, aircraft, and supplies) to meet this high demand.
The current weather forecast calls for record heat and low humidity – conditions conducive to new ignitions and rapid spread of any fires that develop. Please, obey these restrictions and encourage others to do so – no one should set the spark that becomes a wildfire.
Fires are allowed in campfire rings at these locations:
Detroit Ranger District: Big Meadows Campground, Breitenbush Campground, Cleator Bend Campground, Cove Creek Campground, Fox Creek Group Site, Hoover Campground, Humbug Campground, Marion Forks Campground (upper loop only), Riverside Campground, Santiam Flats Campground, Shady Cove Campground, South Shore Campground, Whispering Falls Campground
Sweet Home Ranger District: Fernview Campground, House Rock Campground, Longbow Organization Camp, Lost Prairie Campground, Trout Creek Campground, Yukwah Campground
McKenzie River Ranger District: Alder Springs Campground, Big Lake Campground, Big Lake West Campground, Box Canyon Guard Station, Box Canyon Horse Camp, Cold Water Cove Campground, Cougar Crossing Campground, Delta Campground, French Pete Campground, Frissell Crossing, Hard Rock Campground, Horse Creek Campground, Ice Cap Campground, Limberlost Campground, Lookout Campground, Lost Lake Campground, McKenzie Bridge Campground, Mona Campground, Olallie Campground, Paradise Campground, Red Diamond Campground, Roaring River Campground, Scott Lake Campground, Slide Creek Campground, Sunnyside Campground
Middle Fork Ranger District: Big Pool Campground, Black Canyon Campground, Blair Lake Campground, Blue Pool Campground, Broken Bowl Campground, Camper’s Flat Campground, Clark Creek Organizational Camp, Dolly Varden Campground, Everage Flat Site, Gold Lake Campground, Hampton Campground, Harralson Horse Camp, Huckleberry Flats Day Use, Indigo Springs Campground, Islet Campground, Kiahanie Campground, North Waldo Campground, Packard Creek Campground, Salt Creek Falls Day Use Area, Salmon Creek Campground, Sand Prairie Campground,
Sacandaga Campground, Secret Campground, Shadow Bay Campground, Skookum Creek Campground, Timpanogas Cabin, Timpanogas Campground
For fire information, visit our website www.fs.usda.gov/willamette/ and follow us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/willamettenf/ and Twitter, https://twitter.com/willametteNF .
