Public Use Restrictions: FIRE DANGER

Again this summer, most forests of the northwest were in a high fire danger situation.  Every forest usually posts their own “Public Use Restrictions” which include both seasonal and phased in requirements as conditions warrant.  Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, those that the Winom-Frazier OHV Complex is within, were no different.

NWTRA had some questions on these restrictions and asked the forest management and did some research to find out.

Most seasonal restrictions are put in for June 1^st to October 31^st.  These are as follows:

1. Campfires allowed only in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not conducive to rapid fire spread, at a minimum clear of all flammable material within a radius of 3 feet⁽¹⁾ from the edge of the pit and free of overhanging material. Use existing pits wherever possible.
   1. Campfires must be attended at all times, and completely extinguished prior to leaving.
   2. Persons with campfires are required to have a tool that can serve as a shovel and one gallon of water in their possession ⁽²⁾. The intent of this requirement is to ensure individuals with a campfire to have the tools necessary to completely extinguish their campfire per “a” above.
   3. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled gas and wood burning stoves equipped with a chimney that is at least five (5) feet in length with a spark arresting screen consisting of ¼ inch mesh hardware cloth are allowed
   4. Use of charcoal briquettes is permitted under the same restrictions as campfires as described above. Within designated wilderness areas users are encouraged to locate fires such that minimal disturbance would be necessary to meet the clearing requirements identified. Naturally cleared areas, previously used sites, and areas where vegetation is non-flammable (green grass) are examples. Possession of a typical backpacking folding shovel (commercially available) meets the intent of a tool as described in item “b” above.

NOTES:

(1): Fires located in the center of a clear area within a radius of 3 feet.  Keep Oregon Green recommends the area to be a radius of 5ft on all sides of the fire.  National Fire Service and “Ol Smoky Bear” say a 10 foot diameter.

(2) Person are required to have a tool to serve as a shovel and one gallon of water in their possession. The one gallon of water is help make the fire “Dead Out”. The shovel and water are considered “common tools”. They did not list the size of the shovel or the type of container holding the water, this could be up to the law enforcement officer

Phase A (indicators are Adjective fire danger MODERATE to HIGH; IFPL level II or III)

1. Seasonal Campfire Restrictions and Requirements described for June 1st-October 31st apply.
2. Chainsaws: may be operated only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time. A one hour fire watch ⁽³⁾ is required after saw operations cease. Saw operators are required to have an axe (minimum 2 lb head, 26” length), shovel (8” wide, 26” length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz) in their possession ⁽⁴⁾.
3. Smoking allowed only in enclosed vehicles and buildings, developed recreation sites, or cleared areas.
4. No off-road/off-trail vehicle travel or travel on roads not cleared of standing grass or other flammable material ⁽⁵⁾; no vehicle travel on those FS roads where access has been impeded or blocked by earthen berm, logs, boulders, barrier, barricade or gate, or as otherwise identified in the Fire Order. Off-road/off-trail travel to access firewood as allowed under firewood permit is exempt.

Phase B (indicators are Adjective fire danger rating of HIGH; IFPL at level III).

1. Campfires allowed only in developed recreation sites listed in Exhibit A (revised annually). This restriction applies to building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal briquettes or stove fire except for liquefied or bottled gas stoves and heaters.
   1. Campfires must be attended at all times, and completely extinguished prior to leaving.
   2. Persons with campfires are required to have a tool that can serve as a shovel and one gallon of water in their possession (except in specified developed recreation sites listed).
   3. Wood burning stoves equipped with a chimney that is at least five (5) feet in length with a spark-arresting screen consisting of ¼ inch mesh hardware cloth are allowed in developed recreation sites listed in Exhibit A.
2. No internal combustions engine operation, except motor vehicles. Chainsaw use is prohibited. Electrical generators operated under the following conditions are allowed:
   1. In the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material, or;
   2. When fully contained within a pickup truck bed that is devoid of all flammable material, or
   3. When factory installed in a recreational vehicle and the generator exhaust discharge is located in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material;
3. Smoking allowed only in enclosed vehicles and buildings, developed recreation sites, or cleared areas.
4. No off-road/off-trail vehicle travel or travel on roads not cleared of standing grass or other flammable material; no vehicle travel on those FS roads where access has been impeded or blocked by earthen berm, logs, boulders, barrier, barricade or gate, or as otherwise identified in the Fire Order.

Phase C (indicators are Adjective fire danger rating of Extreme; IFPL level IV).

1. Campfires not allowed. Liquid and bottle gas stoves only.
2. No internal combustions engine operation, except motor vehicles ⁽⁶⁾.
3. Smoking allowed only in enclosed vehicles and buildings, developed recreation sites, or cleared areas.
4. No off-road/off-trail vehicle travel or travel on roads not cleared of standing grass or other flammable material; no vehicle travel on those FS roads where access has been impeded

NOTES:

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